Abstract
Phytoplankton are probably the most important aquatic organisms that you have NEVER seen! Phytoplankton are nearly invisible and use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients in water to produce sugars that power the estuary food web. The amount of phytoplankton growth is important because phytoplankton are the food for aquatic animals like zooplankton and fish. Scientists working in the San Francisco Estuary are concerned because phytoplankton growth is low, and some animals are starved for food. Measuring phytoplankton growth is hard because growth is low and the conditions in the water that control growth change quickly. As a result, scientists created a mathematical equation, called a model, that brings together the number of phytoplankton available to grow, the amount of sunlight, and the muddiness of the water to estimate phytoplankton growth each day. This way, scientists can determine where and when food is available to power life in the San Francisco Estuary.
Highlights
Phytoplankton are probably the most important aquatic organisms that you have NEVER seen! Phytoplankton are nearly invisible and use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients in water to produce sugars that power the estuary food web
Scientists working in the San Francisco Estuary are concerned because phytoplankton growth is low, and some animals are starved for food
Phytoplankton are probably the most important aquatic organisms that you have NEVER seen! That is because most phytoplankton are so small you cannot see them with your eyes
Summary
Phytoplankton are probably the most important aquatic organisms that you have NEVER seen! Phytoplankton are nearly invisible and use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients in water to produce sugars that power the estuary food web. The amount of phytoplankton growth is important because phytoplankton are the food for aquatic animals like zooplankton and fish. Scientists working in the San Francisco Estuary are concerned because phytoplankton growth is low, and some animals are starved for food. Scientists created a mathematical equation, called a model, that brings together the number of phytoplankton available to grow, the amount of sunlight, and the muddiness of the water to estimate phytoplankton growth each day. This way, scientists can determine where and when food is available to power life in the San Francisco Estuary
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