As cold, briny water from the antarctic circulates to the equator, it warms and rises. as it does, this upwelling carries nutrie

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As cold, briny water from the antarctic circulates to the equator, it warms and rises. as it does, this upwelling carries nutrie

nts that produce ____ billion tons of phytoplankton that are eaten by fish and birds. those that are not eaten die, and fall back to the ocean floor, carrying nutrients with them.

Biology

2 answers:

inysia [2.3K] · Answer 1 · 2026-03-21T12:18:02+03:00

45 Billion Phytoplankton

Brackish water contains more salt than regular water, resulting from the mixing of seawater with fresh water in certain environments. The nutrients responsible for the creation of 45 billion tons of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton comprises bacteria that are essential autotrophic components of aquatic ecosystems. They are the foundational link in the food chain, serving as crucial nourishment for larger species.

Rainbow [2.3K] · Answer 2 · 2026-03-21T12:20:38+03:00

At any given time, one (1) billion tons of phytoplankton can be found. Every year, around 45 billion tons of phytoplankton exist in the ocean. Beyond serving as a food source for fish, they play a vital role in the carbon cycle. This phytoplankton absorbs 45–50 billion tons of inorganic carbon into their cells, representing the principal source of atmospheric oxygen.