Phytoplankton & CO2
One group of creatures produces 70% of the earth's oxygen and also consumes carbon dioxide at an amazing rate. They are phytoplankton, and most are tiny single-celled organisms. Phytoplankton come in many shapes and forms. The majority are single-celled plants, but some are bacteria and others are protists. Common types of phytoplankton are cyanobacteria, green algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophores. Phytoplankton plays an important role in human life in that they produce 70% of the oxygen we breathe. A much greater amount than terrestrial plants. They are part of the carbon cycle, as they consume atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 resides naturally in the atmosphere, but human beings, mostly through the burning of fossil fuels, have released ever greater amounts into the atmosphere. Stock Images and Stock Video of Phytoplankton Along with CO2, phytoplankton need sunlight and other nutrients to survive. At certain times, phytoplankton grow at an