The scientific community is a very interconnected web of people whom rely on one and other to provide accurate and useful information for research. The same thing can be said for mother Earth and her ecosystems. The Earth is an extremely complex consisting of both plant and animal life. Small alterations and disturbances can have widespread effects. Everyone and everything is responsible for its own specific job. The oceans are an integral part of the Earth’s ability to function. Many aspects of Earth’s functionality are taken for granted or simply unknown by the people who rely on them. Some of the most important organisms helping to power our planet’s engine are microscopic in size, but size accounts for nothing when it comes to zooplankton.
Ctenophores, pronounced ‘teen-o-for’, are but one of approximately two hundred described species of zooplankton with more being discovered every day (Pang et al 2008). More commonly known as comb jellies, these tiny gelatinous zooplankton range in size from millimeters up to two meters long (Pang et al 2008). Ctenophores small size makes ocean navigation a very difficult and energy intensive process. Other than floating with ocean currents, these organisms can steer themselves via cilia, comb-like plates running longitudinally down the sides of the body (Freeman et al. 1973). The comb plates beat or flutter to propel the organism forward. These cilia plates are the source of ctenophores beautiful bioluminescence. Each jelly has eight cilia plates responsible for light production and locomotion (Yo et al. 1926).
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