They drift aimlessly at sea, soaking up sunlight from the sky and nutrients from the deep. Often invisible to the naked eye, these tiny invertebrates form the hidden backbone of ocean ecosystems.

Thanks to a new algorithm, researchers at the AWI can now use satellite data to determine in which parts of the ocean certain types of phytoplankton are dominant. In addition, they can identify toxic ...

Pelagic ctenophores are a type of gelatinous animal that gets carried along by water currents. The country has now registered ...

In a once-in-a-decade occurrence, a type of plankton known as salp is making the waters off La Jolla home, and thousands have been seen by local swimmers and fishermen. While La Jolla Parks & Beaches ...

Plankton are a diverse group of marine organisms, which are carried by tides and currents. Most are microscopic, but there are some larger plankton, such as some types of jellyfish. Phytoplankton are ...

The Continuous Plankton Recorder device is towed in surface waters and occupies a similar space to a marine mammal. It has been used to monitor the oceans since 1931. Credit: Marine Biological ...

New research highlights the benefits of combining existing long-term plankton monitoring programs and emerging technologies in monitoring the health of our seas. Advances in technology -- such as ...

Advances in technology – such as microscopic imaging and molecular techniques – have the potential to transform our understanding of global ocean health, according to the authors of a new study.