Friday 2/8 Plankton

Plankton is very important to the marine life and to our own.  They are a very important to different marine animals providing 200 billion metric tons of food per year.  These creatures are also responsible for half of the earths photosynthesis absorbing 200 million tons of carbon dioxide.  This process is vital to producing oxygen, maintaining the worlds temperature, and for the ocean's ability to handle climate change.

                                                        

                                                Diatoms and Dinoflagellates Differences: 
Diatoms are the most abundant type of photosynthesis organism in the ocean while Dinoflagellates are second.  Diatoms also are survive off the suns energy and is responsible for most of the earths oxygen while Dinoflagellates trap their food and sometimes use extendable tubes that suck out the insides of other cells.  Also, Dinoflagellates are responsible for some harmful effects of marine and human life producing toxins that make the animals sick, then make humans sick when they eat their seafood.