The Ocean's Invisible Forest
• Phytoplankton include diatoms and other algae which inhabit 3 quarters of the earth's
surface, but account for less than 1% of the 600 billion metric tons of carbon contained
within photosynthetic biomass.
• Phytoplankton can draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the sea,
influencing climate.
• Injecting surface waters with amounts of iron stimulates help phytoplankton growth, but
if humans alter phytoplankton's impact on the carbon cycle is crucial for predicting long
term ecological side effects.
• Phytoplankton and land dwelling plants use sunlight energy to split water molecules
into hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
• Oxygen is liberated as waste product and makes pretty much all animal life on earth
and humans.
• Plant's cycle of carbon and climate depend on photosynthetic organisms using hydrogen
to convert inorganic carbon into organic matter (sugars, amino acids and other biological molecules that make up their cells)
• Primary production – conversion of CO2 into organic matter
• If all phytoplankton were to die the CO2 in the atmosphere would rise by 200 parts per million or 35% in a matter of centuries
• Phytoplankton incorporate about 45 to 50 billion metric tons of inorganic carbon into their cells
• Land plants take in 52 billion metric tons a year of inorganic carbon a year so phytoplankton draw nearly as much CO2 out the atmosphere through photosynthesis to the ocean as much as trees, grasses, and other land plants.
• Through the process of biological pump phytoplankton removes CO2 from the surface water sand atmosphere and stores it in the ocean which is about 15% of the carbon accumulate each year where it's released as CO2 as the dead cells decay.
• Phytoplankton – incorporates 50 billion metric tons of carbon which often is simulated by iron via windblown dust.
• ½ of 1% of dead phytoplankton cells and fecal matter settles into sea floor sediments before it can be recycled in the upper ocean
• Some carbon incorporates into sedimentary rocks like black shales (largest area of organic matter) a smaller fraction deposits petroleum and natural gas.
• Phytoplankton need nitrogen and phosphorus. Phosphorus come from phosphate minerals within continental rocks which enter oceans only via freshwater runoff. Nitrogen is most abundant gas in the atmosphere and dissolves in saltwater
• Phytoplankton growth is limited dew to the availability of nitrogen
• During ice ages amounts of iron was much higher and dust particles were larger than during warmer times
• When dust is high CO2 levels are low and vis versa
• Enhancing primary productivity can lead to local problems of serve oxygen depletion.
• Oxygen depletion and other problems having to do with nutrient runoff have already degraded more than ½ the coastal waters in the U.S.
REFLECTION
Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that grow in the upper regions of the ocean where sunlight is plentiful. These small plants, which are composed of algae, are the bottom of the food chain for the entire planet. Phytoplankton require light for photosynthesis, so they usually are found near the surface of the water. A wide variety of adaptations help them stay afloat. Some beat their flagellas and tread water. Others have fins and spines that act as water wings. Others store extra food as oil, which buoys them up near the surface. When phytoplankton become full of oil, they die and sink to the bottom. They become buried under mud and sand. Over millions of years, heat and pressure within the earth transform the oil from the algae into crude-oil deposits that can later be used by humans. Climate change has a profound effect on ocean circulation and mixing patterns, and these in turn control nutrient availability to the ocean's phytoplankton and their access to the solar radiation that is required for photosynthesis. During normal years, the Earth's oceans go through a process known as upwelling in which the easterly winds blow across the equator and drag the warm surface water with them. Then the denser, colder water from the depths of the ocean rises, restoring oxygen and allowing mineral nutrients to return to the surface where phytoplankton can use them once again.
Plankton abundance and distribution are strongly dependent on factors such as ambient nutrients concentrations, the physical state of the water column, and the abundance of other plankton.Plankton can be divided into three functional groups: phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacterioplankton. Phytoplankton are autotrophic prokaryotic or eukaryotic algae that live near the water surface where there is sufficient light to support photosynthesis.Among the more important groups are the diatoms, cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates. Zooplankton are small protozoans or metazoans (e.g.rustaceans and other animals) that feed on other plankton. Some of the eggs and larvae of larger animals, such as fish, crustaceans, and annelids, are included here. Bacterioplankton are bacteria and archaea, which play an important role in remineralising organic material down the water column (note that many phytoplankton are also bacterioplankton). Plankton are found throughout the oceans, seas and lakes of Earth.
However, the local abundance of plankton varies horizontally, vertically and seasonally. The primary source of this variability is the availability of light.All plankton ecosystems are driven by the input of solar energy (but see chemosynthesis), and this confines primary production to surface waters, and to geographical regions and seasons when light is abundant. A secondary source of variability is that of nutrient availability. Although large areas of the tropical and sub-tropical oceans have abundant light, they experience relatively low primary production because of the poor availability of nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate and silicate. This is a product of large-scale ocean circulation and stratification of the water column.
surface, but account for less than 1% of the 600 billion metric tons of carbon contained
within photosynthetic biomass.
• Phytoplankton can draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the sea,
influencing climate.
• Injecting surface waters with amounts of iron stimulates help phytoplankton growth, but
if humans alter phytoplankton's impact on the carbon cycle is crucial for predicting long
term ecological side effects.
• Phytoplankton and land dwelling plants use sunlight energy to split water molecules
into hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
• Oxygen is liberated as waste product and makes pretty much all animal life on earth
and humans.
• Plant's cycle of carbon and climate depend on photosynthetic organisms using hydrogen
to convert inorganic carbon into organic matter (sugars, amino acids and other biological molecules that make up their cells)
• Primary production – conversion of CO2 into organic matter
• If all phytoplankton were to die the CO2 in the atmosphere would rise by 200 parts per million or 35% in a matter of centuries
• Phytoplankton incorporate about 45 to 50 billion metric tons of inorganic carbon into their cells
• Land plants take in 52 billion metric tons a year of inorganic carbon a year so phytoplankton draw nearly as much CO2 out the atmosphere through photosynthesis to the ocean as much as trees, grasses, and other land plants.
• Through the process of biological pump phytoplankton removes CO2 from the surface water sand atmosphere and stores it in the ocean which is about 15% of the carbon accumulate each year where it's released as CO2 as the dead cells decay.
• Phytoplankton – incorporates 50 billion metric tons of carbon which often is simulated by iron via windblown dust.
• ½ of 1% of dead phytoplankton cells and fecal matter settles into sea floor sediments before it can be recycled in the upper ocean
• Some carbon incorporates into sedimentary rocks like black shales (largest area of organic matter) a smaller fraction deposits petroleum and natural gas.
• Phytoplankton need nitrogen and phosphorus. Phosphorus come from phosphate minerals within continental rocks which enter oceans only via freshwater runoff. Nitrogen is most abundant gas in the atmosphere and dissolves in saltwater
• Phytoplankton growth is limited dew to the availability of nitrogen
• During ice ages amounts of iron was much higher and dust particles were larger than during warmer times
• When dust is high CO2 levels are low and vis versa
• Enhancing primary productivity can lead to local problems of serve oxygen depletion.
• Oxygen depletion and other problems having to do with nutrient runoff have already degraded more than ½ the coastal waters in the U.S.
REFLECTION
Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that grow in the upper regions of the ocean where sunlight is plentiful. These small plants, which are composed of algae, are the bottom of the food chain for the entire planet. Phytoplankton require light for photosynthesis, so they usually are found near the surface of the water. A wide variety of adaptations help them stay afloat. Some beat their flagellas and tread water. Others have fins and spines that act as water wings. Others store extra food as oil, which buoys them up near the surface. When phytoplankton become full of oil, they die and sink to the bottom. They become buried under mud and sand. Over millions of years, heat and pressure within the earth transform the oil from the algae into crude-oil deposits that can later be used by humans. Climate change has a profound effect on ocean circulation and mixing patterns, and these in turn control nutrient availability to the ocean's phytoplankton and their access to the solar radiation that is required for photosynthesis. During normal years, the Earth's oceans go through a process known as upwelling in which the easterly winds blow across the equator and drag the warm surface water with them. Then the denser, colder water from the depths of the ocean rises, restoring oxygen and allowing mineral nutrients to return to the surface where phytoplankton can use them once again.
Plankton abundance and distribution are strongly dependent on factors such as ambient nutrients concentrations, the physical state of the water column, and the abundance of other plankton.Plankton can be divided into three functional groups: phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacterioplankton. Phytoplankton are autotrophic prokaryotic or eukaryotic algae that live near the water surface where there is sufficient light to support photosynthesis.Among the more important groups are the diatoms, cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates. Zooplankton are small protozoans or metazoans (e.g.rustaceans and other animals) that feed on other plankton. Some of the eggs and larvae of larger animals, such as fish, crustaceans, and annelids, are included here. Bacterioplankton are bacteria and archaea, which play an important role in remineralising organic material down the water column (note that many phytoplankton are also bacterioplankton). Plankton are found throughout the oceans, seas and lakes of Earth.
However, the local abundance of plankton varies horizontally, vertically and seasonally. The primary source of this variability is the availability of light.All plankton ecosystems are driven by the input of solar energy (but see chemosynthesis), and this confines primary production to surface waters, and to geographical regions and seasons when light is abundant. A secondary source of variability is that of nutrient availability. Although large areas of the tropical and sub-tropical oceans have abundant light, they experience relatively low primary production because of the poor availability of nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate and silicate. This is a product of large-scale ocean circulation and stratification of the water column.
So what?
- The effects from human activities and trying to take over the nature processes is dangerous, serious problem must solve. Little things can mess the natures cycle and living organisms up. Human are killing the environments without knowing that we're dying too. Phytoplankton is precious to environments, we must protect and find ways to assist this species to continue to grow. It's serious to not hurting them and pushing them extinct. Human and nature need them.
What if?
- What if phytoplankton dies because of the process goes wrong? Phytoplankton supply about 80% of our O2, if they die then what gonna happen? The sea life will mess up and disturb. Living organisms in the ocean will die by alter the functioning of the ecosystem.
Says who?
- Groups from public and private sectors.
What does this remind me of?
- This remind me of coyote lab, happy fishing lab, and The Lorax story. Love and care for it when you're still have it, don't wait until it's gone the start crying. We must be caution about everything we do or test on environments because only small mistakes could mess all the nature cycles up. So think deep and carefully.
- The effects from human activities and trying to take over the nature processes is dangerous, serious problem must solve. Little things can mess the natures cycle and living organisms up. Human are killing the environments without knowing that we're dying too. Phytoplankton is precious to environments, we must protect and find ways to assist this species to continue to grow. It's serious to not hurting them and pushing them extinct. Human and nature need them.
What if?
- What if phytoplankton dies because of the process goes wrong? Phytoplankton supply about 80% of our O2, if they die then what gonna happen? The sea life will mess up and disturb. Living organisms in the ocean will die by alter the functioning of the ecosystem.
Says who?
- Groups from public and private sectors.
What does this remind me of?
- This remind me of coyote lab, happy fishing lab, and The Lorax story. Love and care for it when you're still have it, don't wait until it's gone the start crying. We must be caution about everything we do or test on environments because only small mistakes could mess all the nature cycles up. So think deep and carefully.