Tiny marine organisms may affect ocean mixing

Tiny marine organisms may affect ocean mixing Today’s Video of the Day from the National Science Foundation describes how krill and other tiny marine organisms could play a role in ocean mixing.

Each night, swarms of millions of krill move to the surface of the ocean to feed. Researchers at Stanford University recreated this activity in the lab to understand the fluid movement that is involved.

According to the experts, if the vertical migrations of krill are affecting ocean mixing, this must be accounted for in models which estimate ocean circulation and the global climate. Tiny marine organisms may affect ocean mixing as shown above in the video.

The main organism that is responsible for carrying out photosynthesis in the ocean is phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is often described as very small marine organisms. It is a huge producer for the food web. The phytoplankton is divided into different kinds of groups.

Billions of people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as their primary source of protein. Many jobs and economies in the U.S. and around the world depend on the fish and shellfish that live in the ocean.  Changes in ocean chemistry can affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms as well. The ability of some fish, like clownfish. 

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: National Science Foundation