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Planktology is thestudy ofplankton, various small drifting plants, animals andmicroorganisms that inhabit bodies ofwater. Planktology topics includeprimary production,energy flow and thecarbon cycle.
Plankton drive the "biological pump", a process by which theoceanecosystem transportscarbon from the surfaceeuphotic zone to the ocean's depths. Such processes are vital tocarbon dioxide sinks, one of several possibilities for counteringglobal warming. Modern planktology includes behavioral aspects of drifting organisms, engaging modernin situ imaging devices.
Some planktology projects allow the public to participateonline, such as theLong-term Ecosystem Observatory.
There are a very large number of, often closely related or similar looking, plankton species which makes classification a challenge for scientists. Their habitat also adds challenges to their study.[1]
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