Most of the bacterial cells are within the aggregates, with a smaller number of plankton cells visible in the images.
On all four sampling dates, copepods (adults and copepodites) dominated the plankton, with 63.4-96.1% of the plankton numbers, followed by nauplii (2.7- 34.3%).
Progress will require interdisciplinary research involving physical oceanographers, fish behavioural and plankton biologists.
The linkages amongst the biological components, namely plankton, periphyton, rice and fish, within the system provide an insight into understanding the whole production process.
Essentially, the di#erent shades indicate di#erent depths and concentrations of plankton, the darker ones indicating lower concentrations.
In contrast, radiolaria represent the main component of the plankton assemblages across the upper black levels.
After 1952 the plankton hauls were discontinued because they were considered too hazardous.
Thus, these short-lived plankton at and near the base of the oceanic food web have generally adopted "specialist plus dispersal" life-history strategies.
