ORONO, Maine, May 21 -- University of Maine issued the following news release:
Battling polar winds, rough seas and sea ice, the University of Maine's Emmanuel Boss and his colleagues sailed the Southern Ocean to study plankton, microscopic organisms that form the foundation of marine food webs.
These microorganisms, particularly the plant-like phytoplankton, have been producing about 50% of the world's oxygen, and feed numerous species - oysters, crustaceans, seabirds and whales - that support marine ecosystems and economies worldwide. Greater plankton biodiversity is often associated with healthier and more resilient marine ecosystems.
That's why Boss, professor of oceanography, spent 50 days from January to March investigating biodive...