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Plankton Power!

Explore the amazing world of plankton, their types, and their crucial role in marine ecosystems and food webs.

Grade 6 Science BiologyPlankton
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TextMultiple ChoiceFill in the BlanksTrue / FalseShort AnswerWord Bank

Standards

NGSS.MS-LS2-1NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Topics

planktonmarine biologyecosystemfood webscience
8 sections · Free to use · Printable
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Plankton Power!

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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Good luck!

Look at the image below showing various types of plankton viewed under a microscope.

Diatoms through the microscope

1. What is the primary characteristic that defines plankton?

a

They are large marine animals.

b

They can swim against ocean currents.

c

They are microscopic organisms that drift with currents.

d

They live only in freshwater environments.

2. Which of the following is NOT a type of plankton?

a

Phytoplankton

b

Zooplankton

c

Benthos

d

Bacterioplankton

3.   are plant-like plankton that perform photosynthesis.

4. Animal-like plankton are called  .

5. Plankton form the   of most marine food webs.

6. All plankton are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye.

T

True

F

False

7. Phytoplankton produce a large portion of the Earth's oxygen.

T

True

F

False

8. Explain the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton.

9. Describe why plankton are essential for the survival of many larger marine animals.

Use the words below to complete the sentences.

photosynthesis
currents
primary producers
microscopic

10. Plankton are organisms that are carried by ocean  .

11. Phytoplankton are known as   because they create their own food.

12. Many plankton are   and can only be seen with a microscope.