Elizabeth Beston
@elizabethbeston.bsky.social
Marine plankton, home educator, biology undergrad, autistic, non binary. Norfolk UK. Runs The Plankton Project
linktr.ee/elizabethbeston
linktr.ee/elizabethbeston
A big chunk of plastic fibres in my sample this week. Striking colour!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
December 9, 2025 at 5:55 PM
A big chunk of plastic fibres in my sample this week. Striking colour!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
And purely by chance, 115 nematodes added today too! #marineplankton 🦑
December 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
And purely by chance, 115 nematodes added today too! #marineplankton 🦑
Phew! 155 examples of the genus Bellerochea, covering B. horologicalis, B. malleus, and B. malleus f. biangulata, renamed and logged for the Norfolk Plankton Image Library. #marineplankton 🦑
December 9, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Phew! 155 examples of the genus Bellerochea, covering B. horologicalis, B. malleus, and B. malleus f. biangulata, renamed and logged for the Norfolk Plankton Image Library. #marineplankton 🦑
This is a different individual but same taxa
December 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
This is a different individual but same taxa
There have been so many of these little Cyclopoida copepods in my samples the last few months. I’d love to know the species, if anyone has any idea?
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
December 8, 2025 at 8:48 PM
There have been so many of these little Cyclopoida copepods in my samples the last few months. I’d love to know the species, if anyone has any idea?
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
The smallest Squishmallow ever! I think this is a Capitellidae larva (Polychaete - bristle worm) and it’s super squishy!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
December 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
The smallest Squishmallow ever! I think this is a Capitellidae larva (Polychaete - bristle worm) and it’s super squishy!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
Right. Back to it. 89 Acartia discaudata copepods and 115 colonies of Bacillaria paxillifera logged and in the NPIL database. 💪 #marineplankton 🦑
December 7, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Right. Back to it. 89 Acartia discaudata copepods and 115 colonies of Bacillaria paxillifera logged and in the NPIL database. 💪 #marineplankton 🦑
You beautiful, slinky worm, you! A Xenacoela - I don’t know much about these guys, but I think this one is gorgeous! Thanks @microbe_guru for the ID.
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
December 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
You beautiful, slinky worm, you! A Xenacoela - I don’t know much about these guys, but I think this one is gorgeous! Thanks @microbe_guru for the ID.
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into this! ‘Atlas of Marine Invertebrate Larvae’ eds M.Boyle, C.Young and M.Sewell
December 5, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into this! ‘Atlas of Marine Invertebrate Larvae’ eds M.Boyle, C.Young and M.Sewell
Can anyone confirm that this is an N5 of Sacculina carcini? #marineplankton #crustacean 🦑
December 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Can anyone confirm that this is an N5 of Sacculina carcini? #marineplankton #crustacean 🦑
December 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM
It’s a baby! This copepod nauplius has just hatched and swims its first strokes 🥹.
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
December 3, 2025 at 9:55 PM
It’s a baby! This copepod nauplius has just hatched and swims its first strokes 🥹.
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
It’s only now I’m realising how many images I’ve accrued- I’ve photographed 118 individual Acartia clausi copepods! #marineplankton 🦑
December 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
It’s only now I’m realising how many images I’ve accrued- I’ve photographed 118 individual Acartia clausi copepods! #marineplankton 🦑
Oooh I’m on a roll! Diatom Attheya armata is also done! Added to the NPIL database. #marineplankton 🦑
December 3, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Oooh I’m on a roll! Diatom Attheya armata is also done! Added to the NPIL database. #marineplankton 🦑
Halacaridae mites are DONE. Images and videos of 42 different specimens ready for the Norfolk Plankton Image Library #marineplankton 🦑
December 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Halacaridae mites are DONE. Images and videos of 42 different specimens ready for the Norfolk Plankton Image Library #marineplankton 🦑
A lovely Thalassiosira hendeyi from a recent sample. #marineplankton 🦑
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
A lovely Thalassiosira hendeyi from a recent sample. #marineplankton 🦑
Beautiful from all directions!
December 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Beautiful from all directions!
I have photographed 110 individual Asterionellopsis glacialis colonies over the last 3 years. And now they’re all ready for the Norfolk Plankton Image Library! #marineplankton 🦑
December 2, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I have photographed 110 individual Asterionellopsis glacialis colonies over the last 3 years. And now they’re all ready for the Norfolk Plankton Image Library! #marineplankton 🦑
This Tintinnina ciliate is having a good stretch out of its lorica (its little ‘cup’)!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
December 2, 2025 at 8:01 AM
This Tintinnina ciliate is having a good stretch out of its lorica (its little ‘cup’)!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
A Sabellariidae polychaete (bristle worm) larva.
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
December 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
A Sabellariidae polychaete (bristle worm) larva.
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
If you’re a @thembauk.bsky.social member, you get to have my winning image from last year’s Christmas card competition as you wallpaper this month!
December 1, 2025 at 12:53 PM
If you’re a @thembauk.bsky.social member, you get to have my winning image from last year’s Christmas card competition as you wallpaper this month!
Today was sample day! #marineplankton 🦑
November 30, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Today was sample day! #marineplankton 🦑
Who else is running the vacuum around today? Sunday chores brought to you by this Gastropod larva 😍
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
November 30, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Who else is running the vacuum around today? Sunday chores brought to you by this Gastropod larva 😍
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
This cnidarian (probably a sea anemone) planula larva has perhaps bitten off more than it can chew! Normally ovoid, this larva has taken on the shape of its lunch, a copepod! If you look closely, you can see the eye of the eaten crustacean!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
November 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
This cnidarian (probably a sea anemone) planula larva has perhaps bitten off more than it can chew! Normally ovoid, this larva has taken on the shape of its lunch, a copepod! If you look closely, you can see the eye of the eaten crustacean!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑