Plankton Chronicles

by Parafilms, for CNRS

Now available online at The Plankton Chronicles.

Also see The Secret Life of Plankton, at TED-Ed.

Use the links below to view the videos from the EEB server (slower loading).

  1. Plankton

    Plankton are a multitude of living organisms adrift in the currents. Our food, our fuel, the air we breathe originate in plankton.   Plankton.mov

  2. Protists: Our single cell ancestors

    Single cell organisms, protists are the ancestors of all plants and animals.   Protists.mov

  3. Embryos & Larvae

    Drifting in the currents, embryos and larvae perpetuate the species and are food for multitudes.   Embryos-larvae.mov

  4. Sea Urchin plankton

    Barely visible to the naked eye, sea urchin larvae grow and transform into bottom-dwelling urchins.   Sea-urchin.mov

  5. Gelatinous Zooplankton

    Jellies flourished more than 500 million years ago. Are they destined to rule the oceans?   Jellies.mov

  6. Iridescent ctenophores

    Shimmering waves of light, stalking their prey, ctenophores are on the move.   Ctenophores.mov

  7. Salps: Exploding populations

    Close ancestors of vertebrates, salps gobble up algae and grow into long chains of clones.   Salps.mov

  8. Velella: Planktonic vessels

    Colonies of polyps transported by prevailing winds, velella drift at the surface of warm seas.   Velella.mov

  9. Pteropodes: Mollusks that swim

    Planktonic snails known as sea butterflies, build fragile shells. Will they survive an acidifying ocean?   Pteropods.mov

  10. Pelagia : A fearsome jellyfish

    Purple jellies move in droves, their nasty stings feared by bathers.   Pelagia-jelly.mov

  11. Pleurobrachia

    Propelled by eight rows of combs, pleurobrachia deploy two long tentacles to fish for small crustaceans.   Pleurobrachia.mov

  12. Phronima: Gentle monsters

    The female phronima recycles parts of salps or jellies, building barrels to raise her progeny.   Phronima.mov