Book
 

Hallo Plankton!​

Wonderful creatures in the water

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The great (almost) unknown

 

Did you know that plankton produces half of the Earth's oxygen?

 

However, not all plankton is the same. It's easy to explain what a lion is: an animal species that belongs to the "cat" family. All cats, whether domestic, lion or lynx, are descended from common ancestors and look a bit alike - four legs, fur and so on. Plankton is different. Plankton is neither an animal species nor an animal family. In fact, the term encompasses not only animals, but also plants and bacteria, viruses and fungi. All creatures that belong to the plankton actually have only one thing in common - they are lousy swimmers! They live in the water, but simply can't move well enough to fight the current. They float in the water like dust in the air. The word plankton comes from the Greek and means something that floats around. A good name, because it says it all!

 

The forests of the oceans are not formed by huge aquatic plants, but by tiny algae and bacteria. These superminis consist of just one cell and have neither roots nor leaves. Sounds unspectacular? Far from it - because nothing works in the ocean without them. They produce half of the earth's oxygen, feed all other marine animals with their energy and look beautiful when viewed under a microscope. With fascinating insights into the work of a cell biologist, an evolutionary researcher, a biochemist and a developmental biologist.

 

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Genre Non-fiction

Concept, text and illustrations Kristina Heldmann

Interviews with Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo, Aaron Straight, Annika Guse, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado

Scientific consulting Annika Guse 

Publisher Jacoby & Stuart, 2024

Language German (translations are in planning) 

Pages 96 pages of full-color 

Size 20,5 x 22,5 cm
Binding Hardcover
Reading age 12+ years / for the whole family