The Importance of Dwarfs in an Ocean of Giants

Abstract

The sea-ice and the oceans of Antarctica are full of life. The smallest organisms are tiny plants that consist of only one cell. These small cells come in large numbers: a single droplet of seawater may contain thousands of tiny plant cells called microalgae. Like all plants, they use carbon dioxide and produce oxygen when they grow. Together, the microalgae in the oceans produce 50% of the oxygen in the atmosphere. They also influence the global climate by producing a gas that causes clouds to form. In the oceans, especially along the underside of sea ice, microalgae make a colorful meal for plant-eating ocean animals. In this article, we will show you not only how beautiful microalgae can be in color and shape, but also how important these tiny organisms are for all life on Earth—from the small shrimps and large whales that feed on them to the humans that need oxygen to breathe.