Plastic pollution in the ocean is killing plankton
In the same way rainforests serve as the lungs of the Earth, plankton serve as the lungs of the ocean. Plankton is a food source for marine life, from microscopic amoeba and shrimp to multi-ton whales.
Plastic in the ocean breaks down into microscopic and submicroscopic particles, clouding the water and preventing sunlight from penetrating as deeply as it does in clean water. Like a plant closed in a dark closet, the plankton do not get enough sunlight to survive. When the population decreases, the oxygen level in the ocean decreases, which both starves and suffocates larger marine life.
Phytoplankton are plants, a microscopic algae. They contain chlorophyl and use sunlight for photosynthesis. They self produce chemical energy for their life and growth. They consume CO2 and emit oxygen. Phytoplankton is a major source of food for larger marine life.
Zooplankton are living creatures, tiny crustaceans in the form of worms and shrimp. They are a major food source for larger marine life. Some are microscopic and some can be seen with the naked eye. They do not produce their own food and rely on eating smaller phytoplankton. They filter food out of the water through their bodies. Microplastic particles foul their digestive system and kill them.
