INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Beneath the vast ocean waves lies an "invisible kingdom" crucial to marine life – the world of plankton
Often unseen yet fundamental, these diverse organisms form the bedrock of the ocean food chain, regulate the Earth's climate and can signal
ecological imbalances.Using the Imaging Plankton Probe (IPP) system developed by the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT),
Chinese Academy of Sciences, scientists can now capture these tiny life forms in their natural habitat with unprecedented clarity.The IPP
identifies species, measures size and counts populations in real-time
This cutting-edge tool, which combines crystal-clear in-situ imaging with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered automatic recognition, is
unlocking microscopic ocean secrets that were previously beyond the reach of traditional methods.Join us as we dive into these mysterious
waters through the lens of the IPP and meet the plankton "warriors" – seemingly Insignificant yet astonishingly powerful, even capable of
influencing fisheries and nuclear power plant safety.Copepods photographed by the IPP
/SIATCopepods photographed by the IPP
/SIATCopepods photographed by the IPP
/SIATCopepods photographed by the IPP
/SIATCopepodsPlankton from SpongeBob – that tiny villain trying to steal the Krabby Patty secret
He's based on a real ocean creature – copepods, a type of plankton! While resembling cockroaches in shape, they often display dazzling
colors – far more beautiful
As the dominant family of zooplankton in both abundance and diversity, they serve as vital prey for fish
Without them, many delicious seafood dishes wouldn't exist.Noctiluca scintillans photographed by the IPP
/SIATNoctiluca scintillans photographed by the IPP
/SIATNoctiluca scintillans photographed by the IPP
/SIATNoctiluca scintillans photographed by the IPP
/SIATNoctiluca scintillansEver chased "blue tears?" These starry-night-like blue glows along coastlines are created by bioluminescent
Noctiluca scintillans is a common "blue tear" species that emits ethereal blue fluorescence when disturbed
When aggregated into red tides, they degrade water quality, deplete oxygen and voraciously consume phytoplankton – a true "beautiful
killer."Echinopluteus larva photographed by the IPP
/SIATEchinopluteus larva photographed by the IPP
/SIATEchinopluteus larva photographed by the IPP
/SIATEchinopluteus larva photographed by the IPP
/SIATEchinopluteus larvaWhile sea urchins are prized seafood, have you seen their larval form? These "floating specks" act as living GPS in
The patterns on their calcified skeletal plates precisely indicate warm current directions, making them invaluable ecological markers for
tracking marine circulation shifts.Dolioletta gegenbauri photographed by the IPP
/SIATDolioletta gegenbauri photographed by the IPP
/SIATDolioletta gegenbauri photographed by the IPP
/SIATDolioletta gegenbauriNature's carbon-capturing jelly candy! Our IPP caught this translucent vacuum cleaner devouring phytoplankton at
record speed, locking away climate-changing carbon through its sinking "fecal snow," positioning them as climate change
warriors.Casinodiscus photographed by the IPP
/SIATCasinodiscus photographed by the IPP
/SIATCasinodiscus photographed by the IPP
/SIATCasinodiscus photographed by the IPP
/SIATCasinodiscusImaged by our IPP, encased in glass-like silica shells, their intricate structures refract sunlight like kaleidoscopes and
enable efficient photosynthesis in murky waters
During spring and summer blooms, they drive more than 50 percent of coastal primary productivity – the ocean's essential
"breadbasket."Hemidiscus photographed by the IPP
/SIATHemidiscus photographed by the IPP
/SIATHemidiscus photographed by the IPP
/SIATHemidiscus photographed by the IPP
/SIATHemidiscusThe IPP revealed how this watermelon-patterned diatom uses spiral ridges on its hemispherical shell to create "Bragg
diffraction," boosting light capture at dawn
This adaptation allows efficient photosynthesis even in low morning light.Phaeocystis globosa photographed by the IPP
/SIATPhaeocystis globosa photographed by the IPP
/SIATPhaeocystis globosaThese brown "popping pearls" form centimeter-scale gelatinous globules from microscopic cells
Thriving in nutrient-rich waters, blooms suffocate marine life, release toxins that turn seawater into "poison soup," and clog nuclear plant
intakes.Jellyfish photographed by the IPP
/SIATJellyfishIPP snapped nature's see-through ninjas! No brain, no heart, but pack toxic stings
When they party hard? They clog power plants and turn fish nurseries into ghost towns.Creseis acicula photographed by the IPP
/SIATCreseis acicula photographed by the IPP
/SIATCreseis aciculaOceanic "glass pens" that serve as temperature probes
These transparent drifters explosively reproduce in the waters between 29 to 32 degrees Celsius – a range amplified by nuclear plant
Blooms invade fish habitats and block cooling systems.Trichodesmium photographed by the IPP
/SIATTrichodesmium photographed by the IPP
/SIATTrichodesmium photographed by the IPP
/SIATTrichodesmium photographed by the IPP
/SIATTrichodesmiumKey players in red tides, these rust-colored colonies resemble bundled straw or badminton shuttlecocks
Their nitrogen-fixing ability sustains productivity in nutrient-poor seas.Radiolarians photographed by the IPP
/SIATRadiolarians photographed by the IPP
/SIATRadiolariansMicrobes with intricate glass-like silica skeletons
Their radiating pseudopods capture prey, while skeletal remains alter seafloor composition
Scientists decode ancient oceans from these microfossil time capsules!Acetes photographed by the IPP
/SIATAcetesTranslucent "dried shrimp" in your soup were once lively plankton
Suspended by feathered bristles, they sustain fish stocks
But blooms clog water filtration systems, impacting fisheries and nuclear plant safety.(Cover: Acetesphotographedby the IPP
