zooplankton
zooplankton on World Data Ocean: a running collection of 5 stories we have gathered and hand-picked because they are worth your time. Every post here touches on zooplankton in some way — the news, the analysis, the deep dives, and the occasional surprise find. A Global Hub for Ocean Intelligence 4 World Data Ocean is a centralized digital platform where researchers, scientists, and ocean enthusiasts converge to explore, analyze, and… New stories are added to this page as we find them, so check back if you want to keep up with what is happening around zooplankton, or subscribe to the RSS feed to get them as soon as they are published. Browse the collection below, or head back to the homepage to see everything World Data Ocean is covering right now.
Balanced top-down and bottom-up control in coastal planktonic food webs
Coastal planktonic food webs are governed by both bottom-up (physical/chemical) and top-down (predation) controls, yet the relative strength of these forces remains a critical uncertainty hindering ecosystem understanding. A 15-year analysis of the Wadden Sea reveals a complex interplay, demonstrating bottom-up influences on phytoplankton blooms alongside top-down termination via grazing. Notably, our findings suggest a comparable importance of both control mechanisms across various timescales, highlighting the crucial link between higher trophic levels and biogeochemical cycling.
Assessing the contribution of euphausiids’ fecal pellets to greenhouse gas inventories in the Eastern South Pacific
The Eastern South Pacific (ESP) presents a complex productivity gradient, with coastal regions representing a notable source of greenhouse gases (GHGs). This study investigates a previously underexplored factor: the contribution of euphausiid (krill) fecal pellets to GHG inventories—specifically CO2, N2O, and CH4—within the mixed layer. Experiments revealed that krill pellets represent a potential range, acting as both sources and sinks, with an estimated contribution of less than 1%.
Plankton Game - How many can you spot?
Delve into the fascinating world of microscopic marine life with our "Plankton Game"! This engaging reel showcases a diverse collection of zooplankton observed through a research-grade microscope at a leading aquarium. Can you identify the various species within the video? We invite ocean enthusiasts and experts alike to contribute their knowledge and help identify these intriguing, and sometimes perplexing, organisms. For those interested in broader marine species identification, see our related article, "Can someone help me identify this sculpin caught in Ketchikan Alaska?
Climate warming drives multidimensional reorganization of global zooplankton community structure and function: an updated review
Climate warming is fundamentally reshaping global zooplankton communities, impacting their structure and function through a complex interplay of environmental stressors—ocean warming, acidification, and intensified stratification, among others. This updated review synthesizes empirical evidence, highlighting how these drivers influence species distributions, body sizes, and ecosystem processes like carbon cycling and nutrient regeneration. Taxonomic and regional variability significantly affect these responses, demanding integrated approaches combining long-term observations and advanced modeling.
Correction: Climate-driven phenological shifts and biogeographical constraints of the hydrozoan Velella velella in Mediterranean coastal waters
Recent research validates significant shifts in the distribution and lifecycle timing (phenology) of *Velella velella*, a hydrozoan species, within Mediterranean coastal waters, demonstrably linked to climate change. Empirical data reveal biogeographical constraints impacting this species’ range, highlighting the cascading effects of altered ocean conditions. This study contributes critical ocean intelligence regarding climate indicators and ecosystem response. For further insights into deep-sea exploration informing our understanding of ocean dynamics, see "Camera 1: 2026 Cook Islands ROV Exploration (EX26045)."