Global Warming Likely to Reduce

Phytoplankton Size, Thereby

Reducing Ocean's Capacity to
Remove Carbon Dioxide from Air

Science Daily (June 9, 2010)

Reported By: Cheeny Rose R. Bulacan
Reported on : June 22, 2010
Photosynthesis – the
conversion of light energy
to chemical energy that is
stored in glucose or other
organic compounds; occurs
in plant, algae and certain
prokaryotes
Phytoplankton
– algae and
photosynthetic
bacteria that drift
passively in the
pelagic zone of an
aquatic environment

Biomass – the dry weight of organic matter

comprising a group of organisms in a
particular habitat

Campbell, Reece. Biology 7th Edition

Both the absolute and relative biomass of
small phytoplankton in the North Atlantic
increase at higher temperature.
Contribution to phytoplankton total
biomass of its smallest fraction
(picophytoplankton, less than 2 µm in
diameter) is greater in warmer waters.

Phytoplankton size largely determines the

ultimate fate of organic carbon produced
during photosynthesis.

Analyzing the results in terms of biomass

showed that while total phytoplankton
decreased with warmer temperature, the
biomass of smaller cells increased.
In summary…

Temperature Total Total biomass Capacity of ocean

of the ocean phytoplankton of smaller to remove Carbon
biomass phytoplankton Dioxide in air
The impact of the increase in these
small primary producers can be
summarized as a significant
reduction in the potential of the
oceans as a sink for atmospheric
CO2.