Primary productivity Phytoplankton form the basis of the aquatic food web. By utilising pigments such as chlorophyll and phycoerythrin, they are able to absorb solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into high-energy organic carbon compounds. This fuels growth by synthesising vital components such as amino acids, lipids, proteins, polysaccharides and nucleic acids. Phytoplankton are in fact responsible for around half the photosynthesis on Earth and hence are a fundamental component of the global carbon cycle. Vertical distribution of phytoplankton Sunlight is, directly or indirectly, the ultimate energy source for almost all life on Earth, with phytoplankton harvesting itRead more
