OCEAN ANIMALS
DIATOMS
The planktonic larval stage enables the species to disperse widely. In the open ocean, there is nowhere to hide from predators. Many plankton are transparent, a good camouflage in the bright upper waters. Many fish have larvae that drift in the upper layers, where prey is abundant. Plankton often migrate to deeper waters by day and return to the surface to feed at night. The cooler water of the depths may help them to conserve energy by day, and the dimmer light may conceal them from predators. These plankton respond to light from above. If the light intensity is low, they stay closer to the surface. If the water is clear and the light intensity higher, they sink deeper.
Some of the plankton live right at the surface. They usually have a strong blue pigmentation. This may give them protection from strong ultra-violet light near the surface, or camouflage them against predators above them.
