By Samantha Farquhar

Take a breath….and thank the trees.

Now take another breath…..but this time thank the ocean.

Yes, the ocean. It has been estimated that 50% of the global oxygen supply comes from the ocean.

How does the ocean do this? By providing a home to plant-like organisms called phytoplankton.

Similar to trees, phytoplankton utilize the chemical process of photosynthesis. They use the energy of the sun with carbon dioxide to create sugars and in the process release oxygen as a by-product. However, while there are 3 trillion  trees on earth, there is even more phytoplankton. A single teaspoon of seawater can contain as many as 1 million phytoplankton!

Not only do phytoplankton provide us with every other breath, they are the basis of the marine food web. This means nearly all life in the ocean depends on phytoplankton in one way or another. For example, the tuna in your rainbow roll preyed on smaller fish that preyed on zooplankton that preyed on phytoplankton. Without phytoplankton, there would be no seafood.

Additionally, because phytoplankton consume carbon dioxide, they form an essential link in the global carbon cycle. This cycle involves carbon moving between the atmosphere, land, oceans, and sediments. Phytoplankton are a part of the “biological pump” of the cycle in which they facilitate the transfer of carbon from the oceans to marine sediments. This occurs when phytoplankton die and sink to the bottom of the ocean. The dead phytoplankton are then decomposed by microbes which converts the organic carbon to inorganic carbon found in the sediments. This is significant given that 99% of Earth’s carbon is stored in these sediments. Because they are so effective at removing carbon from seawater, some scientists believe phytoplankton may be the key to combating climate change in the future.

Despite their high levels of productivity, global sources of oxygen like phytoplankton are under threat. One study found that the global phytoplankton population has decreased by 40% since 1950 likely due to increasing ocean surface temperatures brought on by climate change.

This yet another example of why we need to protect our oceans. No healthy oceans, no phytoplankton, no food for fish or people alike. However, you can help save the phytoplankton.

Opt for a plant-based diet when possible because  it decreases your carbon footprint. Lastly, educate others! You can do this through social media, family dinners, volunteer environmental outreach and even pick-up lines:

Are you a phytoplankton?  Cause you just gave me life. 😉