Plankton Research Paper
Earth is the only planet, known to mankind, to contain life. Everything from the luxurious atmosphere to the fertile soil has been catered to sustain life. Among these life forms, lies the Homo Sapien, often referred to as humans. These creatures have been known to do great things, from transcending high into Earth’s skies to burrowing deep into its seas. Despite this, mankind is wrong to credit itself as being Earth’s finest life form. For deep within the sea lies a life more valuable than Earth, itself, in sustaining life; Plankton. Furthermore,through the study of Plankton, one may discover mankind’s misconception on what it means to be significant. Throughout history, mankind has viewed size as a representation of importance, power,
…show more content…
In fact, plankton are scientifically unclassified.Within the broad term of Plankton, lies a diversity ranging from protists, single celled plankton, to Phytoplankton, plants that contribute heavily to the marine ecosystem, to Zooplankton, animal larvae who grow out of the plankton classification with age (Encyclopedia). Meanwhile mankind belongs to the overarching species of Homo Sapien. The difference is clear. While study after study extensively reveals more and more of the human species, the plankton is unknown. In her book The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, renowned naturalist Sy Montgomery writes, “These animals [plankton] have no brains and the barest of nervous systems. And yet there behavior is eloquently expressive,” she continues, “in their simple brainless behaviors, we can see ‘joy and sadness, of approach and avoidance, of vulnerability and safety’”(112-3). Imagine, if the brainless nerveless plankton is just as capable of emotion, what does that say about human understanding of the natural world? In recent memory, scientist had defined human as the only species capable of conscious emotion. Despite this, the plankton, among many other animals, have been defying human
In fact, plankton are scientifically unclassified.Within the broad term of Plankton, lies a diversity ranging from protists, single celled plankton, to Phytoplankton, plants that contribute heavily to the marine ecosystem, to Zooplankton, animal larvae who grow out of the plankton classification with age (Encyclopedia). Meanwhile mankind belongs to the overarching species of Homo Sapien. The difference is clear. While study after study extensively reveals more and more of the human species, the plankton is unknown. In her book The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, renowned naturalist Sy Montgomery writes, “These animals [plankton] have no brains and the barest of nervous systems. And yet there behavior is eloquently expressive,” she continues, “in their simple brainless behaviors, we can see ‘joy and sadness, of approach and avoidance, of vulnerability and safety’”(112-3). Imagine, if the brainless nerveless plankton is just as capable of emotion, what does that say about human understanding of the natural world? In recent memory, scientist had defined human as the only species capable of conscious emotion. Despite this, the plankton, among many other animals, have been defying human