This is a picture taken by NASA. They discovered they could see phytoplankton bloom becasue it gives off a red glow while in the sun. This is picture they took in 2004.

www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2004/0826planktonglow.html

Plankton are aquatic organisms that are unable to travel through the oceans under their own power.  Most plankton are nearly microscopic and rely on the movement of water to move from one place to another. 

     There are two major types of plankton, Phytoplankton and Zooplankton.  Phytoplankton are usually single-celled plant-like organisms that can carry out photosynthesis and produce their own food.  Zooplankton can be either single-celled or multi-celled and must consume other plankton for nourishment.

Dr. Wolfe is a visiting professor from Florida Institute of Technology. She is studying phytoplankton and reporting the results to NOAA. She specializes in harmful algal blooms - think red tide type things.

We were lucky to have her vist our school on several occasions to teach us about phytoplankton. We interviewed her - see what we learned.

Q. What is your job?
A: I am a marine toxologist. I look at the harmful effects toxins have on our environment.

Q:What do you teach kids?
A: I teach them about harmful algae.

Q: What is your favorite thing to teach kids?
A: I like to expose kids to new ideas and things.

Q: What is phytoplankton?
A: Phytoplankton is a small floating plant.

Q: What does it do?
A: Phytoplankton makes oxygen and feeds a lot of the food chain.

Q: What are you studying?
A: I study toxins to find out where they end up in the food chain.

Q: Does it hurt the environment?
A: Sometimes, the red tide can kill a lot of fish.

Q: Does phytoplankton help the environment?
A: Ye, it does. It creates oxygen, and feeds the lower levels of the food chain.

Q: How many kinds of phytoplankton are harmful?
A: About 500 are harmful. It may sound like a lot, but it is only 5% of all phytoplankton.