Marine Biology

Floatation by increasing surface of resistantce

Floatation by increasing surface of resistance

Plankton, show several important morphological and ecological adaptations  essential for their survival. They show different structural / morphological  adapatations to remain on the well lighted surface waters by reducing the sinking rate . These forms show variuos body shapes to reduce the sinking by increasing the surface of resistance. For this many plankton have flattened body shapes, for example some are bladderlike, ribbonlike, needlelike, or branched types. Larvae of eels and ten-pounder fish, called leptocephalus , which are of flat or leaf like in shape.

      Certain phytoplankton like Chaetoceros, which possess hair-like setae on its cell  and zooplankton, phyllosoma ( larva of lobster)  have long projected appendageswhich help these forms in creating surface of resistance, hence aids in floating in the surface.