Phytoplankton are the unsung heroes of our planet. They are primary producers forming the base of the oceanic food chain, serving as the first link in the conversion of sunlight and nutrients into biomass, eventually leading to everything from krill to whales. They are also responsible for much of the oxygen present in our atmosphere (up to 90%). Phyto comes from the greek word meaning 'plant' and plankton translates to 'drifter.' These tiny organisms are plants that drift throughout the world’s oceans. Individually they are most often impossible to see with the naked eye, but when gathered together in masses, they can sometimes appear as large colored patches in the water - red, green, brown.

This online phytoplankton library was initially created to help provide information about the organisms behind the spring 2007 algal blooms sighted here in the Monterey Bay. We also thought it would be great to have a site people can go to, to learn more about the phytoplankton species found in the waters along California, Oregon, and Washington.

When you click on the phytoplankton link above, you will find two lists of phytoplankton, depending upon what group they belong to: Diatoms or Dinoflagellates. These are the two most common groups, but there are several other groups which we hope to eventually add. Included in each entry is a short description about the phytoplankton species, where it can be found, and if available, a few fun and interesting facts. Some species of phytoplankton can be harmful, and we note that in the facts as well. Much of the information found on these pages comes from three main sources as well as the tireless efforts from many researchers, students, and professors.

Enjoy!

*Brand New*

Phytoplankton Blog

This blog showcases information coming from a local phytoplankton sample that is collected weekly in Santa Cruz. The ocean samples are collected by a graduate student at UC Santa Cruz. This information is a report on the sample collection and not necessarily checked by a science faculty or plankton expert. [more]

Spotlight

This section showcases different parts of the phytoplankton study process, such as how samples are collected, what equipment is involved, and how you go about drawing different phytoplankton samples. We will be adding in fun 'spotlight' information as it comes available, so check back in periodically. [more]

Phytoplankton Homepage Header Illustrations courtesy of Erika Beyer