n seawater worldwide, microscopic organisms called plankton are bobbing along with the current. Plankton are vital for maintaining balance, not only in marine ecosystems, but also in regulating the global climate. Plankton can be divided into two different categories: phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplankton, also known as microalgae, are chlorophyll-packed organisms that operate in the ocean in a similar way to how plants live on land. To obtain their food and energy, phytoplankton perform photosynthesis. These tiny invertebrates convert sunlight and carbon dioxide dissolved in the water into energy, releasing oxygen as