Tools & Technology: Plankton Nets
The research teams studying zooplankton on our cruise will use bongo nets or ring nets to collect the miniscule animals they study. Each net has a ring at the mouth, then a cylindrical net behind that. The net gets narrower toward the back, funneling zooplankton into a collecting bucket at the bottom. The net is dropped over the side of the ship and pulled quickly to the surface; it collects zooplankton so scientists can see the tiny creatures that live in the ocean.
CalVET is another kind of plankton net. It stands for California Vertical Egg Tow. On this cruise, it’s not being used to collect eggs, but rather to collect zooplankton.
