According to the researchers, from across institutions in the U.S., iron released due to human activities enhances spring phytoplankton blooms as well as speeds up the rate at which nutrients are consumed.
About Phytoplankton:
Phytoplanktons are microscopic plants, but they play a huge role in the marine food web.
Phytoplankton, also known as microalgae, are similar to terrestrial plants in that they contain chlorophyll and require sunlight in order to live and grow.
Most phytoplankton are buoyant and float in the upper part of the ocean, where sunlight penetrates the water.
They require inorganic nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates and sulfur which they convert into proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
The two main classes of phytoplankton are dinoflagellates and diatoms.
Dinoflagellates use a whip-like tail, or flagella, to move through the water and their bodies are covered with complex shells.
Diatoms also have shells, but they are made of a different substance and their structure is rigid and made of interlocking parts. Diatoms do not rely on flagella to move through the water and instead rely on ocean currents to travel through the water.
In a balanced ecosystem, phytoplankton provide food for a wide range of sea creatures including shrimp, snails, and jellyfish.
When too many nutrients are available, phytoplankton may grow out of control and form harmful algal blooms (HABs).
These blooms can produce extremely toxic compounds that have harmful effects on fish, shellfish, mammals, birds, and even people.
Ecological significance
Phytoplankton is estimated to produce about 50 percent of Earth’s oxygen.
They have a crucial role in the global carbon cycle.
They provide an essential food source for organisms like zooplanktons.
Just like land plants, they grow more in certain seasons.
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