We have studied some of the treasures of the oceans—fish, whales, shellfish, salt, minerals and much more. However, there is another very important treasure. It is the living masses of small, drifting animal and plant life called krill or plankton.
Without the immense supply of krill, there would be no whales, porpoises and some of the important fish that form part of man’s food supply. For all these creatures and many others, krill is their main food. Whales are perhaps the largest krill feeders. Swimming through masses of krill with their mouths open, they close them to squeeze out the water and swallow the “krill soup” that remains. It is estimated that a large whale may swallow over five tons of krill a day.
Most krill is found in the icy waters of the Arctic and Antarctic oceans and is the real reason why whales, penguins and many kinds of fish are so plentiful in those areas. The name “plankton” means “wandering” and refers to that part of the krill composed of tiny plants and animals (also called diatoms). Some are so small that a teaspoonful of water could hold one million! These masses drift about in ocean currents, and if not devoured, their tiny skeletons eventually drop to the bottom, making great deposits of “diatomaceous earth” over the centuries. This material can be dredged out and used for many purposes.
However, krill is made up of many things besides diatoms: tiny, shrimp-like creatures, others that look like miniature lobsters, shellfish about the size of a postage stamp, another shellfish called a copepod, great masses of algae and uncountable millions of microscopic plants and life forms. The lobster-like krill, with eyes forming the major part of their heads, are a choice food of penguins, along with a heavy diet of fish. Eating-size shrimp also eat krill. All of these obtain important vitamins and minerals from krill, which is part of the Creator’s way of providing strength and health for them and to others who eventually use them for food.
Sometimes called “the pasture of the sea,” krill is often found in great masses covering the ocean for several miles. It often glows with a soft light at night, plainly visible to ships passing through it.
While these creatures are unseen to most of us, we cannot help but consider how wonderful it is that the Lord God, their Creator, is always aware of all His creation and through krill provides food for so many of them. “These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat [food] in due season” (Psalm 104:2727These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. (Psalm 104:27)).
But His care and provisions for you are so much greater, because He loves you. You enjoy His daily care and provisions. Do you enjoy His love?
ML-06/23/2013