- Knowing what microbes are.
- Understanding that microbes can be both harmful and beneficial to other living organisms.
- Knowing and identifying the most important species of phytoplankton and animal plankton.
Microbes are microscopically small organisms.- All bacteria, archaea, and protists are microbes. In addition, unicellular algae and some fungi are also considered microbes.
- Plankton is a term that comprises all small organisms that flow freely in water ecosystems.
- The group of phytoplankton includes e.g. cyanobacteria, green algae and diatoms. They are producers.
- The group of animal plankton includes e.g. small crustaceans such as water fleas.
- Animal plankton are consumers that gain their energy by eating phytoplankton.
- Key words: microbe, plankton, bacteria, protist, alga.
