Does living near a city change how many plankton float in the nearby water? Plankton are tiny organisms that drift in lakes and oceans. They form the base of the food chain. This project counts them at different shoreline sites. You collect water samples using a homemade plankton net made from a coffee can and fine mesh. Back in the lab, you place drops on a gridded slide and count plankton under a microscope. A partner repeats the count for accuracy. By comparing counts from multiple stations along the shore, you look for patterns. Sites near urban areas may show different plankton numbers than sites farther away.