| Contents |
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- The Gaia Hypothesis
- The Microbial Revolution
- Phytoplankton
- Ocean Productivity
- Seasons of the Sea
- Hydrothermal Vents
- Climate Change
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| IN THE DIGITAL OCEAN CENTER |
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| FEATURED TOPIC: PHYTOPLANKTON |

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Phytoplankton are often called the grasses of the sea. Through the process of photosynthesis (photo=light; synthesis=build), these single-celled, photosynthetic microbes nourish the entire food web of the world ocean. Nevertheless, the discovery of photosynthetic microbes with evolutionary histories and metabolic tools much different than higher plants has led a re-definition of sorts. Phytoplankton are most accurately defined as planktonic, photosynthetic microbes... |
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