NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — The Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach is taking a big look at the smallest organism in the Indian River Lagoon. “Project Plankton” is a community science effort that’s monitoring plankton in the estuary.

Plankton are drifting organisms that are plants (phytoplankton) or animals (zooplankton). Plankton are usually microscopic but also include larger species like jellyfish. “Project Plankton” is looking at how environmental changes affect the organisms and is currently looking for community members to get involved. Carley Metcalf, the Education Coordinator at the Marine Discovery Center, is leading the project. 

“Project Plankton is a community science effort that is looking at plankton in the northern Indian River Lagoon over time and how it’s influenced by its environmental factors,” she said.

Every week, Metcalf and citizen scientists collect and monitor plankton samples from the Indian River Lagoon. Most plankton are microscopic, but they play a huge role in our environment.

“What a lot of people don’t know or don’t realize is that those phytoplankton, or the plant plankton, provide us almost 50% of the oxygen that we breathe every single day,” Metcalf said.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, plankton “are frequently indicators of ecosystem change.” Metcalf said plankton are the first organisms to feel environmental changes, like temperature spikes, in the lagoon. It’s why the project’s goal is to create a baseline of plankton data over time.

“Here in the Indian River Lagoon, especially in the northern reaches, we don’t have a true baseline for plankton, like what types we’re seeing throughout the year,” Metcalf said.

After the samples are collected, they’re brought inside to be examined under the microscope. Metcalf and citizen scientists count, identify, and photograph the plankton. Their goal is to make a publicly accessible database of plankton in the lagoon and their patterns.

“That is going to go into a catalog that we’re creating that is going to be a living document, essentially, that we will have for public access,” she said.

Metcalf said the most exciting part of the project is not knowing what she’ll find. She’s been a marine scientist for years and said an important part of the field for her is the pursuit of wonder.

“When I look at plankton samples and when I encourage other people to look beyond just what their naked eye can see, it instills in me that excitement and that spark of joy and wonder,” Metcalf said.

From the data collected so far, they’ve been able to find unexpected variations of plankton and identify patterns.

“We’ve been finding a lot more of our phytoplankton in the summertime,” she said. “Those populations are a lot higher, understandably so, because of more daylight, warmer temperatures.”

She loves that “Project Plankton” is a citizen science opportunity, open for anyone 15 or older to take part in. 

“We are asking people in the community to join us in learning about plankton, learning about the data collection and learning how to look at our samples and monitor them,” Metcalf said.

Metcalf said Project Plankton is a way to get involved in local science and connect with the Indian River Lagoon. It shows how closely we’re tied to even the smallest of organisms in our waterways.

The next community training session is Jan. 7, 2025, at the Marine Discovery Center from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration is available online here.

For residents that want to get involved sooner, you can reach out to Carley Metcalf at carley@marinediscoverycenter.org.

Metcalf is also traveling to local Volusia County schools to offer free presentations on plankton to students and teachers. Last year, they engaged over 2,500 students, including 900 from Volusia County. If you’re a teacher and interested in a presentation, you can reach out to Metcalf via carley@marinediscoverycenter.org.