The BATS site is located about 82 km southeast of Bermuda and it only takes 6 hours to reach this site, where samples can be taken from a water column of 4000m depth. The goal of my research is to investigate the role of vertically migrating zooplankton in the carbon cycle of the Sargasso Sea. The Greek word planktos means wanderer or drifter. Plankton are not capable of swimming against major currents and are transported passively. Animals who are active swimmers like fish, squid or mammals are referred to as nekton.
Phytoplankton depend on light for photosynthesis and therefore are only found in surface waters.
Zooplankton are distributed throughout the water column and if deeper living species want to feed on algae they have to ascend to the surface layers. There is an ongoing exchange of carbon dioxide between the ocean surface and the atmosphere. Phytoplankton use carbon dioxide to produce body carbohydrates. Most of the carbon that is fixed this way is consumed and remineralized in the upper ocean. Generally, zooplankton graze on algae.