[resource] The Plankton Chronicles

[bghazzal]

Following my growing interest in all things larval and planktonic, I stumbled upon this pretty amazing site / project / ressource on plankton, created by researcher Christian Sardet:

The Plankton Chronicles
 

This is the website of the Plankton Chronicles Project, self-described as follows:

 

The Plankton Chronicles Project is a series of short videos combining art and science. They reveal the beauty and diversity of organisms adrift in the currents.
The « Plankton Chronicles » project was started in the context of the Tara Oceans Expedition and the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-Mer (IMEV). Christian Sardet, Research Director with the CNRS at Villefranche-sur-Mer conceived the first 4 episodes of the series with Véronique Kleiner and Catherine Balladur from CNRS Images (Meudon). All other episodes were produced by Christian Sardet (IMEV & CNRS Côte-d'Azur) with Noe Sardet and Sharif Mirshak, Parafilms, Montreal. The project and site are sponsored by CNRS, Sorbonne Université and the Ville de Nice.

The Plankton Chronicles website offers very interesting info, including short video episodes on different categories of plankton, accessible here:  https://planktonchronicles.org/en/episodes/

 

 

 
Christian Sardet also published a book (probably be a good companion to the one presented here), which was awarded «Best Underwater World Publication» by the World Festival of Underwater Images (Marseille 2014)
 

https://planktonchronicles.org/en/the-book/

Quoting from the website:

DIVE INTO THE HEART OF BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION

Through hundreds of photographs, Plankton transports readers into the currents, where jeweled chains hang next to phosphorescent chandeliers, spidery claws jut out from sinuous bodies, and gelatinous barrels protect microscopic hearts. The creatures’ vibrant colors pop out against the black pages, allowing readers to examine every eye and follow every tentacle. Jellyfish, tadpoles, and bacteria all find a place in the book, representing the broad scope of organisms dependent on drifting currents.Christian Sardet’s enlightening text explains the biological underpinnings of each species while connecting them to the larger living world. He begins with plankton’s origins and history, then dives into each group, covering ctenophores and cnidarians, crustaceans and mollusks, worms and tadpoles. He also demonstrates the indisputable impact of plankton in our lives.

[bghazzal]

on a related note, here's an article on planton:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/article/2024/aug/20/strange-and-wondrous-creatures-plankton-and-the-origins-of-life-on-earth