Life

Plankton Life Cycle
?

Plankton are microscopic organisms essential to the marine community. They live on top of the water and move with the wind, according to Water Encyclopedia Plankton. Theyare found in almost every freshwater habitat and ecosystem on Earth because they are biologically simple organisms capable of almost exponential growth.

1.
The Facts
*Plankton typically are divided into two categories: phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplankton are plants that use photosynthesis for energy, according to Water Encyclopedia.com. They areconsidered part of the primary producing community and aid in the recycling of elements such as sulfur and carbon. Zooplankton are a much bigger group of organisms than phytoplankton and consist mainly ofrotifers and crustaceans.
Reproduction
*

Plankton are very important to the life cycle of many organisms. For example, the holoplankton (an organism that spends itentire life within a plankton) reproduces in the plankton, according to article "Reproduction in the Plankton," published by the University of Washington. Many types of plankton reproduce sexually. Somehave specialized appendages that grasp onto their partners, preventing them from drifting away during the copulation process. Certain holoplankton and meroplankton invertebrates release sperm into awater column that is then taken up by the females in order to fertilize their eggs. Still others release eggs and sperm simultaneously.
Phytoplankton Life Cycle
*Phytoplankton have a short and relatively simple life cycle. They begin life in freshwater where there are a lot of nutrients. Phytoplankton are capable of reproducing either with blooming or without;however, those that do not bloom are not able to reproduce as quickly. When phytoplankton is in full bloom, they begin their carbon eating cycle and start photosynthesis, according to the article...