The Importance of Plankton in the Food Web

Plankton is the basis of freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, meaning that all aquatic life is dependent upon the energy and oxygen it provides. Plankton is important to the food web as the initial food source for every food chain.

Function

Phytoplankton is the primary producer of all aquatic food chains, gaining energy from the sun to perform photosynthesis, providing food, energy and oxygen needed to sustain plant and animal life.

Types

Phytoplankton such as golden algae and green algae are the basis of freshwater food webs providing nutrients and oxygen, whereas diatoms are the foundation of saltwater ecosystems.

Significance

Phytoplankton is consumed by herbivorous animal microorganisms called zooplankton. Populations of zooplankton provide nourishment for secondary consumers such as fish, whales and crustaceans.

Potential

Without plankton, smaller fish and crustaceans would be without a food source and would die, causing a linear effect of death and extinction among bigger fish and mammals.

Considerations

Plankton takes in carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen during the process of respiration, supplying half of the Earth's oxygen, affecting the survival of aquatic and land food webs.

References

• Rhode Island Sea Grant: The Marine Food Web
• Algae in the Food Web
• Phytoplankton