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Antarctic phytoplankton (average size)

Microscopic view of three different Antarctic phytoplankton.

Antarctic phytoplankton, Fragilaria kerguelensis (large group), Nitzschia sp . (single small cell on the left) and partial cell of Thalassiosira sp .

Plankton are microscopic organisms that drift in either saltwater or freshwater. Phytoplankton range in size from extremely small – less than 0.001 mm – to substantially bigger (on a phytoplankton scale) – about 0.5 mm in length.

Image: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)

Rights: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
Published: 22 July 2021,Updated: 22 July 2021Size: 20.25 KB