Soup of the Sea
Plankton are organisms that drift with currents. Plankton can be plant-like phytoplankton or animal-like zooplankton. Most plankton are small, but even larger organisms are considered plankton if they live their lives drifting with currents. Plankton is found in freshwater and saltwater all over the earth, and it is very important to humans.
Thank your plankton
Imagine your favorite seafood - shrimp - crab, oysters, fish ... thanks to phytoplankton, we can enjoy this mouthwatering cuisine from the sea. Phytoplankton provides two things that are essential for animals (including us) to live. One is food. Like plants on land, they use sunlight and nutrients to produce food. They're the base of the food chain in the ocean. Many tiny animals eat phytoplankton and, in turn, get eaten by larger animals up the food chain. Without plankton, we would not have seafood.
Now, take a deep breath. The second essential ingredient produced by phytoplankton is oxygen. Estimates vary, but most scientists agree that phytoplankton makes up a significant portion of the air on Earth.
There's a zoo out there.
Zooplankton eat. Many eat phytoplankton, and many eat smaller zooplankton. They are an important part of the food chain. A shark may never eat plankton and has no idea it exists, but it depends on plankton for all of its food.
Many zooplankters go through a metamorphosis. Some of them are plankton for part of their lives and then grow large enough to swim against currents or settle to the bottom. Those are called meroplankton. Holoplankton are plankton their whole lives.
You might recognize the adult forms of many meroplankters. See if you can match the adult forms with their planktonic forms below.
Broth of the Bay
Look up at Mobile Bay. These are some of the planktonic organisms that are common in the bay.
Plankton is collected with special nets like this one. The nets have tiny holes and are pulled along the water's surface.
Crabs go through metamorphosis, much like butterflies or frogs. The megalops is one larval stage for crabs.
Bristle worms get their name from their many bristles that are used for movement. They are related to earthworms.
Dinoflagellates are phytoplankton. Some of them can glow like fireflies. Some make toxins that can be harmful to humans when there are lots of dinoflagellates in the water.
Diatoms are phytoplankton. They produce glass-like skeletons that are used in a variety of products. The grit in your toothpaste might come from diatoms.
This is a nauplius, a larval form that is common to many different crustaceans, including barnacles.
Copepods are thought to be the most abundant animals on earth.
They are found in salt and fresh water and even in damp soil.
They are incredibly strong for their size.
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The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for protecting and conserving our country's wild birds, mammals, and fish for the enjoyment of all people. Cooperating with the states and other countries, the Fish and Wildlife Service carries out several programs to preserve our priceless wildlife heritage.
Refuges
Migratory Birds
Fisheries
Federal Aid
Law Enforcement
Ecological Services
U. S. Department of the Interior
Established in 1938, Wheeler Wild Life Refuge protects and manages 35,000 acres of wetlands and forests for wildlife and provides a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors.
Waterfowl and wildlife
Each fall, thousands of migratory waterfowl, including 26 species of ducks and four species of geese, arrive at the refuge to overwinter. Sandhill cranes, numbering in the thousands, also winter here.
More than 500 species of wildlife, including songbirds, wading birds, hawks, deer, turtles, and snakes, inhabit the refuge. Twelve of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered.
Habitat
Wheeler Wild Life Refuge is comprised of diverse habitat types, including bottomland hardwoods, wetlands, pine uplands, shoreline or riparian woodlands, agricultural fields, and backwater embayments. These habitats provide excellent feeding, resting, and roosting sites for wintering waterfowl and Sandhill cranes, as well as nesting sites for migratory songbirds and many species of resident wildlife.
Wildlife Management
Several thousand acres of cropland are cultivated by local farmers on a share agreement. During harvest, a portion of the crop is left in the field as a food source for waterfowl and other wildlife. Each fall, the refuge provides green browse for wintering geese by planting wheat.
Water control structures are used in wet areas to change water levels in a controlled manner. This type of management provides food for waterfowl by encouraging the growth of native plants in moist areas.
Refuge Lands Within Redstone Arsenal
Highways
Secondary Roads
Refuge Boundary
Visitor Center
Wildlife Observation
Boating
Flint Creek Environmental Area & Universally Accessible Fishing Pier
Recreational Opportunity
The Visitor Center offers wildlife exhibits, a gift shop, a large auditorium, two walking trails, special events, and refuge information.
The Wildlife Observation Building, located a short walk from the Visitor Center, offers a unique setting for viewing wildlife. December through February, when large concentrations of waterfowl and Sandhill cranes are in the area, is a good time for viewing, especially just before sunset.
Fishing is a very popular activity on the refuge. Six improved boat launch areas provide access to miles of water in Wheeler Reservoir and adjacent creeks where bass, crappie, bream, and catfish are often caught.
Hunting for deer, squirrel, rabbit, opossum, raccoon, feral hog, and quail is allowed on Wheeler NWR. Special regulations apply, and a refuge hunting permit is required. Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on the refuge.
Wildlife Photography is encouraged on the refuge. There is one fully enclosed, permanent bend near the observation pond that may be reserved for a special use permit.
Environmental Education/Interpretation is a very important program at Wheeler NWR. Organized groups may reserve dates for presentations, wildlife tours, and outdoor classroom activities.
Nature Trails, ranging in lengths from 200 yards to 3 miles, provide opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife. Maps and additional information may be obtained at the Visitor Center.
The Visitor Center is open daily, October through February, 9AM-5PM. From March through September, the hours are 9-4PM, Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday
Phone:256-350-6639
Website: www.fws.gov/wheeler