Importance
Of
Planktology
Planktology is the science and teaching about organisms that float in
the ocean and freshwater, which are labeled plankton. It is a section of oceanography. it is
also covering topics like primary production, predator prey relationships and energy flow.
Especially the flow of carbon is a hot issue in the last years. Plankton drives the "biological
pump", a process by which carbon is transported to the abyss by the help of
the physiology of the organisms. Such processes are important in the discussions
about carbon sequestration, a big hope to catch some of the carbon which is currently
accumulating in the atmosphere due to combustion of fossil fuel (anthropogenic global
warming). Modern planktology also includes now more and more the behavioral aspects of
the life adrift, engaging modern in situ imaging devices, like in the LEO project, some even
allowing the public to participate online.
Of
Planktology
Planktology is the science and teaching about organisms that float in
the ocean and freshwater, which are labeled plankton. It is a section of oceanography. it is
also covering topics like primary production, predator prey relationships and energy flow.
Especially the flow of carbon is a hot issue in the last years. Plankton drives the "biological
pump", a process by which carbon is transported to the abyss by the help of
the physiology of the organisms. Such processes are important in the discussions
about carbon sequestration, a big hope to catch some of the carbon which is currently
accumulating in the atmosphere due to combustion of fossil fuel (anthropogenic global
warming). Modern planktology also includes now more and more the behavioral aspects of
the life adrift, engaging modern in situ imaging devices, like in the LEO project, some even
allowing the public to participate online.
