Phytoplankton: Arguably the Most Important Life on Earth

Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms crucial to life on Earth, forming the base of marine food webs and significantly impacting the atmosphere. They perform photosynthesis, producing oxygen and consuming carbon dioxide. Historically, they have shaped Earth's atmosphere, notably during the Great Oxidation Event. Different types, like diatoms and coccolithophores, contribute to ocean chemistry stability by buffering acidity. Despite their size, phytoplankton play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and deserve protection.

Which type of phytoplankton is known for its glass-like structures?

• Cyanobacteria

• Coccolithophores

• Diatoms

• Dinoflagellates

Which phytoplankton is known for its bioluminescent properties?

• Dinoflagellates

• Diatoms

• Cyanobacteria

• Coccolithophores

What geological feature is formed by the fossilized remains of coccolithophores?

• The Grand Canyon

• The White Cliffs of Dover

• The Great Barrier Reef

• Mount Everest

What is a significant contribution of phytoplankton to the Earth's atmosphere?

• They produce nitrogen.

• They consume oxygen.

• They produce methane.

• They consume carbon dioxide.

What is the primary role of phytoplankton in the marine food web?

• They are scavengers.

• They are decomposers.

• They are primary producers.

• They are top predators.

What event is associated with the massive increase in oxygen production by cyanobacteria?

• The Cambrian Explosion

• The Ice Age

• The Great Oxidation Event

• The Permian Extinction

How did phytoplankton contribute to the stabilization of ocean chemistry?

• By producing methane

• By increasing ocean salinity

• By creating calcium carbonate shells

• By consuming all oceanic oxygen