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How do phytoplankton serve as an indicator of environmental change within marine ecosystems, and what are the major challenges in studying their flux and role in carbon sequestration?

Answer 1

Daniel Valencia

Phytoplankton are crucial indicators of environmental change due to their sensitivity to variations in water temperature, light, and nutrient availability. They play a vital role in carbon sequestration by absorbing CO2 during photosynthesis. However, studying their flux and role in carbon sequestration presents challenges, including the complexity of marine ecosystems, variability in phytoplankton species, and difficulties in accurately measuring their biomass and carbon uptake rates.