The Wonders of Marine Plankton

About this book

Marine plankton, despite their tiny size, are crucial for the functioning of marine food webs. It is not just about one organism eating another; when this happens, it helps release the nutrients accumulated within living matter, making them available again for microalgae. Plankton are present in freshwater and in all the seas and oceans on the planet. Moreover, they are responsible for supporting life on Earth and has provided us (on geological timescales) with a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe. In just a small spoonful of seawater, we can find around fifty million viruses, five million bacteria, hundreds of thousands of small unicellular flagellates, thousands of microscopic algae, five heterotrophic ciliates or dinoflagellates, and, with some luck, a small crustacean like copepods. The Wonders of Marine Plankton aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and the general public, offering a captivating exploration of the fascinating world of marine plankton. Through engaging narratives and visually compelling illustrations, readers will gain insights into the importance of plankton in marine ecosystems, their diverse forms, and the crucial role they play in maintaining our planet's health.

Contents

Chapter 1. A Teaspoon of Seawater: A Tiny Ecosystem
Chapter 2. The Marine Biological Pump
Chapter 3. The Four Seasons of Plankton
Chapter 4. The Rhythms of Plankton
Chapter 5. Plankton, Mussels with French Fries, and Diarrhea
Chapter 6. Are there carnivorous plants in the sea?
Chapter 7. The Most Formidable Predators of the Ocean: The Protists
Chapter 8. Copepods: Good Things Come in Small Packages
Chapter 9. Water Fleas, Matriarchy, and a Parasite Named Like a German Sausage
Chapter 10. Gelatinous Plankton: Itchy Jellyfish, Appendicularians with Luxury Chalets, Filter Barrels, and other Extraordinary Creatures
Chapter 11. Holoplankton and Meroplankton: two Peculiar Terms for Common Creatures
Chapter 12. Feeding Mechanisms in Zooplankton
Chapter 13. Evading Predators: The Clever Tactics of Plankton Survival
Chapter 14. Bioluminescent Plankton
Chapter 15. Global Warming and Plankton
Chapter 16. Plankton Adaptations to Extreme Environments
Chapter 17. The Fragility of Plankton
Chapter 18. From Land and Sea
Chapter 19. Plastic: you Are Plankton and to Plankton you Shall Return
Chapter 20. Why are there no insects in the sea?
Chapter 21. Harnessing the Power of Plankton: A Revolutionary Approach to Industry
Chapter 22. Sampling plankton
Chapter 23. Myths and Legends of Modern Research: Experimenting with Zooplankton
Chapter 24. A Brief History of Plankton Discovery

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Biography

Albert Calbet is a marine researcher working at the Institute of Marine Sciences, CSIC (Barcelona, Spain), specialising in the ecology and ecophysiology of micro- and mesozooplankton. He has made significant contributions to the field, particularly in understanding the role of microzooplankton in marine food webs. Albert completed his PhD in Marine Sciences in 1997 at the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM), CSIC, after which he pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has held various positions at ICM, including Deputy Director. Albert has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles, authored books and book chapters, and actively participated in scientific conferences worldwide. He has been involved in teaching and mentoring students at the PhD, Master, and undergraduate levels. Albert's research has been supported by prestigious institutions, and he has served as a reviewer for funding agencies and on the editorial boards of scientific journals. Committed to science outreach, he manages several Web pages and engages with the public through social media, outreach articles, and books.