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food chain
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Diatoms and other phytoplankton form the foundations of ocean food chains. Shrimplike krill consume the phytoplankton, and small fishes eat the krill. At the top of the food chain, dining on these smaller fishes, are larger, predatory fishes. terrestrial food chain
What role do spiders play in the food chain?
Algae, primarily diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophorids, which are often collectively called phytoplankton, are the base of the food chain for all marine organisms. energy pyramid
How an ecosystem works
Take an in-depth look at the variety of plankton, from diatoms and microflagellates to jellyfish
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Photos and Videos

Diatoms and other phytoplankton form the foundations of ocean food chains. Shrimplike krill consume the phytoplankton, and small fishes eat the krill. At the top of the food chain, dining on these smaller fishes, are larger, predatory fishes.
terrestrial food chain
Algae, primarily diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophorids, which are often collectively called phytoplankton, are the base of the food chain for all marine organisms.
energy pyramid
What role do spiders play in the food chain?
How an ecosystem works
Take an in-depth look at the variety of plankton, from diatoms and microflagellates to jellyfish
See All Videos and Images →

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Key People

Charles Elton
English biologist

Related Quizzes and Features

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Rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) photographed in the Midwest in 2017. endangered species insect pollination
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