As with almost every system, the parts of the Earth are as important as the whole. More often than not we forget that the hardest working organisms on this plant, the ones that make the world work, are some of the smallest and most easily overlooked. Frogs are an integral part of the ecosystem and when there is a problem, are an indicator of deeper biological issues. People don’t notice frogs and they most certain don’t notice phytoplankton.
How small are these creatures? Well, you wouldn’t be able to spot on if it was in the palm of your hand. Indeed, they are only visible in extremely large numbers. Rather than seeing specifics, however, you would only see a general green tint to the water.
What makes phytoplankton is important? Well, the simplest reason is that they make oxygen, but the full story is more complicated. Responsible for over half of all the planet’s photosynthesis, these organisms convert sunshine into energy. Being that they do half of the load when compared with all of the terrestrial plant life, it is easy to understand their worth in creating half of all breathable oxygen.
Why so much? Well, it can be simple to dismiss the impact of ocean life, but it is smart to remember that there is more water on the planet then land. Phytoplankton are not easily found all over the planet, however, since it is not just sunlight but minerals that keep them flourishing.
These nutrients include nitrate, phosphate, and iron. Some oceans have a limited number of these oxygen producers simply because the environment is absent of needed iron. There are some experiments being done to enrich areas with iron in an attempt to create more phytoplankton, but the debate is still out.
As resilient as the Earth is, the life that exists upon it is in more of a precarious position. It is time to be more mindful of of the affects we impart onto the planet and how that, in turn, affects us.
The importance of phytoplankton is being studied by scientists and ecologists. Many hypothetical uses for marine phytoplankton are already in developement.