Siphonophore (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
The various components of a profiling float type PROVOR
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)
Foraminifera Ruber (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Dinoflagellate Ceratium candelabrum var depressum (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Squid larva (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Rosette used to collect seawater samples during a scientific cruise in the South Pacific Ocean. (Photo : Joséphine Ras)
Dinoflagellate Ceratium furca (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Tunicata Pyrosoma (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Ctenaria Lampetia pancerina (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Ciliate (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
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.
Seasonal evolution of the chlorophyll a concentration as obtained by the ocean color sensor SeaWiFS in the Atlantic Ocean.
Deployment of a profiling float (Photo : Jean-Jacques Pangrazi)