AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Phytoplankton float at or near the surface of the ocean, where they can use the sunlight and their chlorophyll to create energy. In the process, they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

Detailed explanation-2: -These tiny creatures are referred to as “plankton.” Plankton includes plants and animals that float along at the mercy of the sea’s tides and currents.

Detailed explanation-3: -Nanoplankton is the smallest plankton (5/1000 mm to 60/1000 mm). They are primarily of single-cellular animals that eat phytoplankton. Microplankton (61/1000 mm to 1 mm) is mainly meroplankton, the eggs and larvae of invertebrates. Macroplankton (over 1 mm) contains mainly holoplankton, such as copepods and amphipods.

Detailed explanation-4: -Because phytoplankton are tiny, they don’t weigh very much and they have a large surface area relative to their volume, which helps them float. Adaptations such as spines increase the surface area even more and prevent phytoplankton from sinking too fast.

Detailed explanation-5: -In addition to phytoplankton and zooplankton, two even smaller kinds of plankton can be found floating in the sea. Bacterioplankton are bacteria and virioplankton are viruses.