The importance of plankton to the seas is of the highest magnitude. Many types of animals depend upon them for food. There are areas in the sea where the plankton populations are extremely low. These areas are virtual deserts in the sea with very few types of animals living in them.

There are two basic groups of plankton: phytoplankton (plant plankton) and zooplankton (pronounced “zoe-plankton:” zooplankton are animals). The phytoplankton are small, microscopic in size. The zooplankton are larger, up to 2 inches in size.

Phytoplankton have been called the “meadows in the sea” because they depend upon the sun (since they are plants). In the summer they undergo a bloom, where the population explodes. At this time they can be so numerous (7 billion/square meter) that it is like swimming in a thick brown soup. When this occurs the zoo-plankton population also blooms. It is very exciting to be in an area during a plankton bloom because the diversity of life is amazing. Not only are there miles upon miles of plankton, but there are whales, seabirds, and many types of fish.

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