<P> Karen is more competent than Plankton in formulating plots to steal the Krabby Patty recipe . Most of his effective plans have come from Karen, including "Plan Z"--the only scheme to result in Plankton successfully stealing the formula and using it to his advantage--in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie . Nonetheless, he tends to take credit for them, much to her dismay . Karen has effortlessly stolen Krabs' formula without Plankton's help on many occasions, but her husband always inadvertently gets in the way . Because of their contrasting behaviors, Plankton and Karen have a tendency to argue . Tom Kenny, SpongeBob's voice actor, has called their marriage "Honeymooners - like," comparing them to the bickering couple from the sitcom The Honeymooners . </P> <P> As a computer on the ocean floor, Karen's ability to operate underwater has not been explained in any of the series' episodes . Tom Kenny addressed this in a 2004 interview with the Associated Press, stating that Karen's functionality is a "don't - ask - why" aspect of SpongeBob and that "logic doesn't have a place" in the series' universe . </P> <P> Karen was also created by Stephen Hillenburg, who named the character after his wife . Hillenburg initially designed a laboratory for Plankton to convey the character's technological abilities, leading to Karen's development as his lab's central computer system . Like Plankton, she was not initially intended to be a main character; her role in the series grew as Lawrence wrote ideas to give the Planktons more personality . Throughout the series' first and second seasons, Karen is not defined as Plankton's wife; Plankton's official biography from 2000 simply states that he works "with the help of his computer, Karen". </P> <P> In the series' third season opener, 2002's "The Algae's Always Greener," Plankton refers to Karen as his wife for the first time . Aspects of their marriage, such as their anniversary and their honeymoon, have become the frequent focus of episodes since then . In early episodes, Karen is always supportive and friendly toward her husband . But, as the series progresses, she becomes more cynical and sarcastic because of Plankton's relentless obsession with the Krabby Patty formula . However, she remains loving and affectionate toward him . </P>

Is plankton from spongebob a zooplankton or phytoplankton