Marine Plankton
Milford Haven
Pembrokeshire UK
Aims of the Site
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To share marine plankton information
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Display photos of plankton biodiversity
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Provide an educational resource
Welcome. This site covers coastal plankton washing on to the stunning shores of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. There is an amazing biodiversity of microscopic life living in every drop of seawater. Collections are made around Milford Haven, part of the Special Area of Conservation, with the most regular ones made in Dale. Other locations. Before looking at the details of The Species check the species chosen each month in the Previous Photo of the Month. You may want to have quick look at the Biodiversity page while Methods looks specifically at how the samples are taken and photographed. The monthly Blog is full photos of the latest species found.
Photo of the Month
After a period of gales at the start of the month, when little could be found in the plankton, the Haven calmed considerably and on the 23rd December large numbers of crustacea were present like isopods. Along with these were a few Mysids, all recently developed from a larval form into young adults between 8 - 10 mm long. This was one photographed that day.
They are called oppossum shrimps because when the female has young she broods them in a chamber under the body.
See more about mysids here.
A juvenile Opposum Shrimp Mysis sp