The phytoplankton that populate oceans are known to play a key role in marine ecosystems and climate regulation. Like terrestrial plants, th
"The phytoplankton that populate oceans are known to play a key role in marine ecosystems and climate regulation. Like terrestrial plants, they store atmospheric CO₂, and produce half of our planet's oxygen via photosynthesis. However, the mechanisms that control their distribution remain poorly understood.
By studying the light perception process of diatoms, a group of phytoplankton, scientists from the CNRS and Sorbonne University discovered that these microalgae use light variation sensors which are codified in their genomes: phytochromes.
These photoreceptors enable them to detect changes in the light spectrum in the water column, thereby providing information regarding their vertical position within it. This function is especially important in turbulent aquatic environments subject to substantial water mixing—such as high latitude, temperate, and polar regions—in order to adjust their biological activity, in particular photosynthesis."
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