Phytoplankton Balloon to Six Times Their Size to Navigate Ocean Depths

Phytoplankton Balloon to Six Times Their Size to Navigate Ocean Depths

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SEC: Ecosystem

Why in News

A recent discovery has shed light on how single-celled phytoplankton—specifically the bioluminescent species Pyrocystis noctiluca—can inflate to six times their original size to reach the ocean’s surface. This phenomenon helps explain the long-standing mystery of how these organisms, without appendages, rise to the surface to photosynthesize before sinking back into the ocean depths.

About Pyrocystis noctiluca:

Pyrocystis noctiluca is a species of bioluminescent phytoplankton found in oceans.

A recent study published in the journal Current Biology reveals that the bioluminescent phytoplankton Pyrocystis noctiluca can inflate up to six times their original size, enabling them to float to the surface and escape the downward pull of gravity.

Researchers liken this behavior to mini-submarines that can adjust their density, allowing the phytoplankton to move up or down in the water column at will.

How Inflation occurs: The inflation occurs as part of the phytoplankton’s cell cycle. When a phytoplankton cell divides into two daughter cells, a structure called a vacuole fills with freshwater, causing the cells to expand.

This process reduces the cells’ density, allowing them to rise toward the ocean surface, where they can photosynthesize and gather sunlight.

The inflation is part of its cell cycle, occurring after cell division. The organism is 5%-10% heavier than seawater, making buoyancy control essential for survival.

It plays a key role in marine ecosystems as part of the food chain and carbon cycle. This species contributes to carbon sequestration by absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere.

About Phytoplankton:

Phytoplankton are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems.

Phytoplankton are microscopic, single-celled organisms that inhabit the surface of oceans, where they play a critical role in the global ecosystem by photosynthesizing sunlight.

Phytoplankton obtain their energy through photosynthesis, as do trees and other plants on land. This means phytoplankton must have light from the sun, so they live in the well-lit surface layers (euphotic zone) of oceans and lakes.

In comparison with terrestrial plants, phytoplankton are distributed over a larger surface area, are exposed to less seasonal variation and have markedly faster turnover rates than trees.

Phytoplankton form the base of marine and freshwater food webs and are key players in the global carbon cycle.

They account for about half of global photosynthetic activity and at least half of the oxygen production, despite amounting to only about 1% of the global plant biomass.

Phytoplankton are very diverse, varying from photosynthesizing bacteria to plant-like algae to armour-plated coccolithophores. Important groups of phytoplankton include the diatoms, cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, although many other groups are represented.

Significance of Phytoplankton’s:

They contribute more than half of the oxygen in the environment.

They reduce global warming by absorbing human-induced carbon dioxide.

They also serve as the base of the ocean food chain.

They are important bioindicators regulating life in oceans. Their abundance determines the overall health of the ocean ecosystem.

The productive fisheries in the world’s ocean are driven by Phytoplankton blooms.