Presented here are common species of freshwater plankton found in the streams and lakes of Southwestern British Columbia. By identifying microorganisms such as these, researchers can investigate questions surrounding trophic structure, species diversity, and other issues concerning community composition within the aquatic environment.
Plankton are a diverse group of microorganisms found in great abundance in both marine and limnetic habitats. Though some are weakly motile, most are carried with the drift of water currents. Phytoplankton are photosynthetic and are primary producers in aquatic food webs. They are also integral to processes of nutrient cycling within the community. Zooplankton are heterotrophic and, like phytoplankton, are an important food source for many other aquatic organisms. Because of these factors, changes in plankton populations can have considerable effects elsewhere in the food web.