Weekend #Plankton #Factoid 🦐🦠

Let's talk #zooplankton nets. Why, on a large ship, do we use a net with very small diameter (0.4 m), but it is long (2 m)? Efficiency! These nets filter better, while not collecting *too much. #Eutrophic systems like #LakeErie clog nets with algae, so less volume is better. We target sizes using different Nitex meshes, most often 63 or 153 μm in the #GreatLakes. To measure volume, we use a flow meter mounted just off-center in the net mouth (know why?). #Science