Phytoplankton
Microscopic photosynthetic organisms that drift in water bodies. The foundation of most aquatic food webs and responsible for roughly half of global oxygen production.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 2 chapters:
"...ests contain multiple earthworm species that process leaf litter and enhance soil structure; lakes contain numerous zooplankton species that graze on phytoplankton, controlling algal populations. This ecological redundancy provides several benefits: Stability: Ecosystems with functional redundancy show mor..."
"... locked in this slowly decomposing organic matter. Stoichiometry and Nutrient Limitation Organisms require nutrients in specific ratios. Marine phytoplankton need carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (C:N:P) in approximate ratios of 106:16:1; terrestrial plants require somewhat different ratios."
Biological Context
Phytoplankton include diatoms, cyanobacteria, and dinoflagellates. They're limited by nutrient availability (especially nitrogen and iron) and light penetration. Phytoplankton blooms can be massive, visible from space. Climate change is affecting phytoplankton distribution and productivity.
Business Application
Phytoplankton-like businesses: small, numerous entities that form the base of an economic ecosystem. They capture primary resources and support larger organisms up the chain.