I did not include other confusing objects like diatoms, but teachers may draw them in. Normally, they are discarded but they can be frozen or preserved in Lugol's solution. My favorite activity aboard the RV Katy is the plankton tow. The dissecting microscope is connected to a video camera that allows the image to be displayed on a monitor. Then I thought about how much I would like to be able to bring this experience to the classroom.
Plankton sampling is fundamental to marine biology.
Forming the base of the food web, the primary producers are photosynthetic algae which become food for the zooplankton which in turn are food for larval fishes. Field biologists examine plankton samples as an indicator in estimating the health and productivity of a bay or estuary. Fish hatchery workers must take zooplankton samples regularly in order to optimize their production. Wise pond management requires that adequate zooplankton populations be maintained. This task is challenging because the species of zooplankton is important as well as their developmental stages.