Importance of Phytoplankton and their impact to the Global Ecosystem: An Overview

Abstract

Diatoms that resemble plants, armor-plated coccolithophore, photosynthesizing bacteria (cyanobacteria), and other organisms are all examples of phytoplankton. Similar to terrestrial plants, phytoplankton uses photosynthesis to convert solar energy into chemical energy by using chlorophyll to absorb light. They exhale oxygen while consuming carbon dioxide. All phytoplankton photosynthesize, but some also consume other species to gain additional energy. Phytoplankton populations can expand rapidly under the correct circumstances, a phenomenon known as a bloom. Oceanic blooms are plainly discernible in satellite photos and can span hundreds of square kilometres. Although a bloom may extend for several weeks, a phytoplankton's life cycle is typically only a few days. The present paper highlights the importance of phytoplanktons and its role as far as global ecosystem is concerned.