The ocean is teeming with microscopic life that despite their minuscule size, greatly impact our world's ecosystem and climate. A large majority of these organisms are considered planktonic, those that are suspended in the ocean waters and rely on the current for movement. Phytoplankton are a type of plankton that are autotrophic and use just photosynthesis as a carbon source. Not only do they serve as a food source for larger organisms, phytoplankton also produce the majority of the world's oxygen and also play roles in cloud formation. (more…)