Which animals eat plankton

Often found floating in the ocean, phytoplankton contain chlorophyll, and they feast upon nitrates and phosphates to thrive, releasing oxygen in return. They also form the salad portion of the diet for many creatures that inhabit oceans, lakes and fish tanks. Zooplankton such the tiny copepods or amphipods that can be found in marine or freshwater aquariums, and snails, will feed on phytoplankton. In your aquarium's cycle of life, zooplankton often become food for coral and fish. Scavenger zooplankton can be a valuable asset in keeping aquarium algae under control.

Algae eaters such as the reliable glass-cleaning plecostomus , some catfish and shrimp also feast upon these organisms. If your fish isn't a species that feeds on algae, you'll need to supplement the aquarium environment with appropriate food. Avoid the Chinese algae eater. He not only doesn't eat much algae, he can end up killing off every other fish in your tank. The best types for algae consumption include:. Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. In addition to reporting for a major newspaper chain, she has been published in "Horse News," "Suburban Classic," "Hoof Beats," "Equine Journal" and other publications.

By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use. Tetras Gouramies Rainbow fish Gobies. Whiptails, also known as lizard catfish Twigs, also known as stick catfish, for their flat shape Pygmy suckermouths Clown pleco. Zooplankton and other small marine creatures eat phytoplankton and then become food for fish, crustaceans, and other larger species.

Phytoplankton make their energy through photosynthesis , the process of using chlorophyll and sunlight to create energy. Like other plants, phytoplankton take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

Phytoplankton rely on nutrients found in their surroundings, such as phosphate, nitrate, and calcium, to thrive. In addition to phytoplankton and zooplankton, two even smaller kinds of plankton can be found floating in the sea.

Bacterioplankton are bacteria and virioplankton are viruses. Plankton can be found in saltwater and freshwater. One way to tell if a body of water has a large plankton population is to look at its clarity. Very clear water usually has less plankton than water that is more green or brown in color. While plankton populations are needed for thriving marine ecosystems, too many plankton in one area can create a serious environmental problem.

These temporary conditions can cause high fish mortality and other damage to the marine ecosystem. Contaminated fish that are caught and served to people may also cause illness and even death.

Because the aquatic food chain depends so heavily on plankton, the survival of these tiny plants and animals is essential for healthy marine ecosystems. Climate change and rising sea temperatures pose serious risks to plankton populations.

Department of the Interior Climate Science fellow whose research interests include the role of plankton in the marine food web.

The more that scientists like Corradino understand how to protect these critical marine species, the more likely it is that their research will help creatures further up the food chain survive threats such as climate change.

Tiny shrimplike copepods are types of zooplankton, which form dense thick swarms in many seas, providing food for fish. Some plankton are the tiny eggs and young of animals, like this crab larva. It is the size of a grain of rice. Toggle text.