ANSWERS: 1
  • NASA describes phytoplankton as "plant-like organism" that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The average lifespan of a Phytoplankton is one or two days.

    What Phytoplankton Eat

    Phytoplankton create their own food by producing chlorophyll. To produce chlorophyll phytoplankton need sunlight, water and other nutrients such as phosphate, nitrate, ammonium and carbon dioxide found in well-circulated water.

    What Eats Phytoplankton

    They are an important part of the marine food chain and diets of animals. Smaller marine animals eat the phytoplankton, and then larger fish eat the smaller fish. Whales also commonly eat phytoplankton.

    Phytoplankton Habitat

    Phytoplankton generally live near the surface of the water where they can receive sunlight and nutrients. They thrive best in well-circulated warm waters.

    Changes in Environment

    When the ocean waters become too warm, fewer nutrients rise to the surface of the water where the phytoplankton need them. Phytoplankton then die, which results in a smaller food supply for other marine animals.

    Red Tide

    Red tide is a harmful blooming of the phytoplankton that results in red colored algae on the water. It occurs when several thousand phytoplankton produce rapidly and release toxins into the water. Red tide is harmful to humans and sometimes causes death in other marine life.

    Source:

    NASA Earth Observatory: What are Phytoplankton

    NASA Earth Observatory: Hunting Dangerous Algae from Space

    NOAA: Harmful Algal Blooms

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