Life Span of Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton are floating plant and algae organisms that live in oceans. They are a subset of plankton, which is a group of small plants and animals. Phytoplankton generally live for a short period of time, but they are an important part of ocean food chains.

  1. Photosynthesis

    • Phytoplankton are important sources of carbohydrates in oceans. They are able to turn carbon dioxide into carbohydrates during photosynthesis. Ocean animals are not able to produce food, so phytoplankton, such as diatoms, are needed to keep fish populations alive.

    Food Chain

    • Phytoplankton serve as prey for whales and smaller fish. They are a vital part of the food chain, because larger fish eat these smaller fish, and humans catch and consume larger fish.

    Survival

    • Phytoplankton often live near the surface of oceans, because they need sunlight and certain nutrients to grow. They also require the pigment chlorophyll to undergo photosynthesis, as well as iron, which they can gather in surface waters.

    Reproduction

    • Most phytoplankton reproduce through asexual reproduction. One process of asexual reproduction is fission or budding, which is performed by species of phytoplankton, such as diatoms. During fission, phytoplankton divide and produce organisms that are similar to the parent and release them into the ocean.

    Death

    • Phytoplankton usually only live between one and two days. When they die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean. When too many phytoplankton die, because of such factors as global warming, ocean food chains are jeopardized.