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.
Photo of the Month
During May there was a steady increase in the number of Sand Eels Ammodytes offshore. At the end of the month a large number of fish larvae were also present and appearing within the western Haven. The photo here is one of those larvae - called a yolk-sac fish larva as the yolk-sac is still present. At this young stage many structures are missing that would give clues to the species but I am speculating that it is of a sand eel. 5 mm long this was the best example as they tend to get damaged in a plankton net. The photo is made up of around 340 pictures. Starting at the head, under the microscope areas were focus-stacked to eventually have 18 composite images that were then stitched making a 252 megapixel photo. The black dots are amoeboid pigment cells that towards the end of the yolk-sac stage move around the body to establish distinct colour markings; and would make ID easier. The labelled diagram below might be useful.
