Plankton is essential for the survival of the oceans as it forms the basis of the marine food chain, nourishing many marine organisms, and plays a crucial role in oxygen production through photosynthesis.
Plankton is like the basic snack of the oceans. These tiny microorganisms float all over the water. They serve as the main meal for a ton of marine species, from small fish to giants like whales. Without plankton, it's a bit like removing the first brick from a tower: the entire food chain rapidly collapses. Many marine creatures, like sardines or shrimp, feed almost exclusively on plankton, and they themselves will become the meal for larger fish, seabirds, and aquatic mammals... In short, without these tiny organisms at the base, there are no fish on plates, nor beautiful whales to observe offshore.
Phytoplankton, also known as plant plankton, produces an incredible amount of oxygen. Through a simple process called photosynthesis, these tiny organisms capture sunlight energy and transform dissolved carbon dioxide in water into oxygen. They alone account for about half of the total oxygen production added each year to the atmosphere and oceans. In other words, we owe nearly one breath of air in two to them. Without their discreet work, ocean life would quickly lack air, and we would also have serious problems breathing.
Plankton is a bit of the discreet champion of carbon recycling in the ocean. Essentially, phytoplankton absorbs carbon dioxide (CO₂) present in the atmosphere through photosynthesis, just like plants on land. Some of the captured carbon ends up directly at the bottom of the ocean when the plankton dies, sinks, and accumulates down there, out of reach for a very long time. This process is called the biological pump, and it's the main way by which the ocean stores carbon. Without this mechanism, atmospheric CO₂ levels would be even higher, worsening global warming. So, without making much noise, these tiny organisms contribute to our survival by massively absorbing and storing carbon. Not bad, right?
Plankton absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, primarily thanks to phytoplankton. It captures this gas to grow, just like a plant does with air. Once dead or eaten, a significant portion of this carbon eventually sinks to the bottom of the ocean: this is called the biological carbon pump. As a result, there is less CO₂ in the air, leading to a reduced greenhouse effect. In short, plankton acts as a natural air conditioner, directly helping to stabilize the planet's temperature.
Plankton is like the giant pantry of the oceans: thousands of species depend directly on it for food, from tiny shrimp to blue whales. But it doesn't stop there: it also serves as a living habitat where many marine organisms, including fish or crustacean larvae that ensure population renewal, hide, develop, or spend part of their lives. Because there is an incredible diversity of plankton species, their presence also helps maintain the balance and variety of marine ecosystems. Without it, many marine species would go hungry or lose their ecological niche, leading to a rapid and dramatic decline in marine biodiversity.
Phytoplankton, the plant plankton, produces about 50 to 80% of the oxygen available on Earth by itself, thus surpassing the impact of terrestrial forests.
Some zooplankton organisms migrate daily between the ocean depths and the surface, thereby carrying out the largest daily animal migration in the world, known as daily vertical migration.
There are surprisingly large forms of plankton, such as certain species of jellyfish that can measure several meters in diameter, yet they are classified as zooplankton because they are unable to withstand ocean currents.
The spectacular bioluminescence that can sometimes be observed on ocean beaches at night is often caused by tiny plankton organisms called dinoflagellates.
Phytoplankton generates about 50% of the planet's oxygen through photosynthesis. This means that one out of every two breaths comes directly from marine plankton.
By capturing significant amounts of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, phytoplankton plays a crucial role as a carbon sink, thereby influencing global climate regulation by limiting the greenhouse effect.
Among the main threats are climate change, plastic and chemical pollution of the oceans, as well as ocean acidification, phenomena that significantly reduce plankton biodiversity.
Yes, absolutely. Plankton forms the base of the marine food chain, and its decline would endanger all predatory species, from small fish to large marine mammals like whales.
It is essential to reduce CO2 emissions, prioritize eco-friendly choices that limit chemical and plastic pollution, and also support marine conservation initiatives that protect vital ocean ecosystems.
Plankton encompasses all marine organisms, primarily microscopic, that drift with the ocean currents. There are generally two main categories: phytoplankton (plant) and zooplankton (animal).
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