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Oceans Education: Thanking Plankton

Adults

Learn from an oceans expert about the importance of Phytoplankton and how it affects all of us. This program is provided in partnership with Cuyahoga Community College.

In this program, an Oceans expert from Cuyahoga Community College will teach you all about the importance of phytoplankton and how it relates to you. Phytoplankton, often referred to as the microscopic plants of the ocean, hold immeasurable importance for the entire world. These tiny organisms, although invisible to the naked eye, play a colossal role in shaping the health and balance of our planet's ecosystems.

Through the process of photosynthesis, phytoplankton convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen and organic matter, thereby producing over half of the world's oxygen supply. This critical role in oxygen production alone makes phytoplankton vital for the survival of countless species, including humans. Moreover, phytoplankton form the foundation of marine food chains, serving as a primary food source for a wide array of aquatic organisms. They provide sustenance to zooplankton, which, in turn, become nourishment for larger marine creatures, including fish, whales, and even humans.

Beyond their ecological significance, phytoplankton also play a vital role in regulating the Earth's climate by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide, thereby mitigating the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, the importance of phytoplankton extends far beyond their diminutive size, as they are truly the lifeblood of our planet's oceans and a fundamental pillar of the global ecosystem.

In short, everyone should know about plankton!

This work is based upon work funded by NSF under grant No. 2115860. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of Parma-Branch of CCPL and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.