Why Is Phytoplankton Important

Why is it important for oceanographer to study phytoplankton?

Plankton is found all over the planet, these are organisms that live in the oceans. They are very small and they can’t swim very well against current. Many plankton organisms are either a plant or animal and planktons are consider the most important organism of the ocean. One of the most important categories of plankton are phytoplankton which are small plants that are only visible by using a microscope. Phytoplankton plays an important role in the ocean; they serve as food webs for many animals, making ocean life possible. They can live in both freshwater and seawater. Some phytoplanktons can be a bacteria, or plant. Oceanographers are dedicated to study all characteristics of the

It is important for them to study the marine environment to determine the quality of water and other factors that are useful in the ocean. For a marine biologist is very important to study phytoplankton for several reasons. The first one, as mention before, phytoplankton is the most important link for food. This means Phytoplankton is the first form of food for zooplanktons and other small marine animals such as fish and jellyfish. But phytoplankton not only helps and feeds small marine animals, it also harms others. Some animals might get harm by these organisms, because it produces toxins that are bad for them, and are for humans as well. In addition, phytoplankton depends on nutrients such as minerals to grow and if it overgrows, certain species of phytoplankton can produce these toxins that are responsible of making algal blooms. Algal blooms can cause dead zones in water and kill people and animals. Its important biological oceanographers to know these hazards because it could cause a disease or even death to other marine animals and in order to try to avoid this and to keep people inform. Another reason biological Oceanographers think is important to study