The Hidden World of Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton are:

• a type of fish

• a type of aquatic plant

• microscopic marine algae

• a type of coral

Phytoplankton are tiny organisms that float in ______, lakes, and rivers.

• oceans

• deserts

• mountains

• forests

Which of the following is a type of phytoplankton?

• Diatoms

• Dinoflagellates

• Cyanobacteria

• All of the above

Phytoplankton produce a large part of the Earth's oxygen, estimated to be around ____ of the oxygen we breathe.

• 50%

• 30%

• 70%

• 90%

Phytoplankton help reduce the effects of climate change by:

• producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide

• releasing methane into the atmosphere

• increasing ocean temperatures

• decreasing ocean salinity

Phytoplankton survive in their environment by:

• photosynthesis

• chemosynthesis

• parasitism

• predation

The challenges facing phytoplankton due to human activities and climate change include:

• Increased ocean temperatures and acidification

• Decreased nutrient availability

• Pollution from agricultural runoff

• All of the above

Changes in salinity affect phytoplankton populations by:

• Increasing their growth rate

• Decreasing their growth rate

• Having no effect

• Causing them to die off completely

What human efforts are being made to protect phytoplankton?

• Reducing carbon emissions

• Increasing plastic production

• Deforestation

• Overfishing

Why are phytoplankton important to aquatic ecosystems?

• They provide oxygen through photosynthesis.

• They are a primary food source for many marine organisms.

• They help in carbon sequestration.

• All of the above.