Sea Urchin - Planktonic Origins
Barely visible to the naked eye, sea urchin larvae grow and transform into bottom-dwelling urchins.
Phytoplankton bloom observed in the Barents Sea (North of Norway) in August 2010 by the ocean color sensor MODIS onboard NASA satellite Aqua. Changes in ocean color result from modifications in the phytoplankton composition and concentration. The green colors are likely associated with the presence of diatoms. The shades of light blue result from the occurrence of coccolithophores, phytoplankton organisms that strongly reflect light due to their chalky shells - Source : NASA's Earth Observatory (http:/earthobservatory.nasa.gov)
Siphonophores - The longest animals on the planet
Cousins of corals, siphonophores are colonies of specialized individuals called zoids. Some catch and digest their prey, others swim, or lay eggs or sperm.
Squid larva (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Siphonophores Forskalia formosa (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Squid larva (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Foraminifera Orbulina universa and mollusk larva (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Velella - Planktonic Vessels
Colonies of polyps transported by prevailing winds, velella drift at the surface of warm seas.
Ciliate (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Diatom genus Chaetoceros (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Satellite observation (GEOS-12) of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 in the Gulf of Mexico - Source : NASA-NOAA
Amphipode crustacean (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Vue sous-marine d'un groupe de mésocosmes montrant un plongeur récoltant les pièges à sediment (© Stareso)
Crab Zoea larva (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Seasonal evolution of the chlorophyll a concentration as obtained by the ocean color sensor SeaWiFS in the Atlantic Ocean.
Diatom genus Rhizosolenia (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Elephant seal equipped with a sensor
Coccolithophore (Photo : Sophie Marro)
