The Sea: A Source of Oxygen!
Did you know that oxygen comes from the sea? How many times did our grandmothers tell us that the sea is good for us, and not just because it’s fun and part of our holidays, but because it’s a source of oxygen!
How?
Thanks to marine phytoplankton, a collection of microscopic plant organisms that, through photosynthesis, produce most of the Earth’s oxygen.
It’s made up of algae and organisms so tiny they can’t be seen with the naked eye, and it is found not only in the seas but also in rivers.
Phytoplankton is essential for stabilizing and cleaning waters, as well as being a primary food source for fish.
We must also remember that the microplastics dispersed in the sea, an issue that is constantly in the news and well-documented scientifically, harm phytoplankton.
Tiny plastic particles, by attaching themselves to phytoplankton, prevent it from carrying out its role: they slow down the sinking of plastics to the seabed and thus hinder the work of carbon sequestration. Many warnings have been raised and thoroughly documented but urgent action is needed to limit the dispersion of plastics and microplastics in our seas.
(Focus 2024) – Article by Chiara Guzzonato, 10/06/2024
