Talk:Plankton
|
|
The sizes given here were using two different systems, I think, since all the ranges they listed were based on multiples of ten except one, and that created a notable gap. They also reported the size of a water molecule to be 20 μm, which is a little on the large side. I've standardized on a system that seems to be popular on-line. However, that isn't necessarily the one biologists use, so it should be checked.
What do plankton eat?
The tiniest plankton must eat still smaller planton! Is there a point at which the organisms just self-reproduce? Adambisset 17:05, 11 Dec 2004 (UTC)
- Well, you would be talking about a virus at that point. But there is no hard and fast rule that bigger fish eat smaller fish, etc. All living organisms require some source of energy to carry out life functions like reproduction, so "self-reproduction" and what something eats are unrelated issues. Presumably very small organisms could feed on stray organic molecules, be photosynthetic (maybe what you meant was "self-produce"?), or feed on dead bodies of larger plankters. - Marshman 17:27, 12 Dec 2004 (UTC)
- Thanks very much! It always pays to ask questions :) Adambisset 15:08, 16 Dec 2004 (UTC)