Plankton 101: The Foundation of Marine Food Webs

Plankton, the tiny drifters of the sea, form the base of marine food webs. Phytoplankton perform photosynthesis and produce much of the ocean's primary productivity, while zooplankton graze on phytoplankton and transfer energy up the food chain.

This article explains the differences between phytoplankton and zooplankton, their life cycles, and why their abundance matters to fisheries, carbon cycling, and global climate.