Choosing a Plankton Net Mesh Size
Choosing a Plankton Net Mesh Size:
For phytoplankton, select a small mesh (20 μm - 60 μm). For zooplankton, use a medium mesh (150 μm). Choosing a plankton net mesh size depends strictly on your target organisms.
In murky or highly productive waters, size up to 200 μm+ to prevent the net from clogging with algae and debris.1. Ultra-Fine Mesh (1 μm – 30 μm)
- Target: Nanoplankton, small dinoflagellates, and bacteria.
- Consideration: These nets have high drag, are prone to rapid clogging, and require slow towing speeds.
2. Fine Mesh (30 μm – 64 μm)
- Target: Most phytoplankton (e.g., diatoms, desmids) and early-stage nauplii larvae.
- Consideration: Ideal for clear freshwater environments where clogging is less of an issue.
3. Medium Mesh (100 μm – 150 μm)
- Target: General zooplankton, rotifers, and microcrustaceans like copepods and cladocera.
4. Coarse Mesh (200 μm – 500 μm)
- Target: Larger macro-zooplankton, krill, and ichthyoplankton (fish larvae).
- Consideration: Excellent for eutrophic, murky waters with high algae loads as it filters out the gunk so you can isolate the larger specimens.
Key Selection Factors
- Target Size: Always choose a mesh size that is slightly smaller than the width of the organism you want to retain.
- Water Clarity: In eutrophic or murky water bodies, go with a larger mesh (e.g., >100 μm) to avoid clogging with organic matter.
