LONDON: Scientists have discovered amazing diversity among planktons. Planktons include tiny plants, virus, embryonic fish that are favorite food of whales.
Planktons serve as the base of the marine food chain.
The organisms near the top of the food chain easily forget small microscopic organisms which contribute to their diverse diets.
Chris Bowler, research director at France’s National Center for Scientific Research and the co-author of the study said, “Planktons are much more than just food for the whales.”
Bowler added, “Although tiny, these organisms are a vital part of the Earth’s life support system, providing half of the oxygen generated each year on Earth by photosynthesis and lying at the base of marine food chains on which all other ocean life depends.”
Jennifer Brum oceanographer from University of Arizona said, “Since the most numerous members of the plankton are bacteria, the majority of viruses in the ocean are thought to infect bacteria.”
Scientist found that these organisms are more complex than they were imagined to be.
International scientist abroad Tara, the French Schooner, embarked on expeditions between 2009 and 2013 collected as many as 35,000 samples of planktons that included virus, fish larvae, bacteria and single cell algae, all from major regions in the ocean.
