Chapter 21, Problem 1BS.1QC

Summary Introduction

To explain:

The effect of the climatic change on the beneficial protists that produce oxygen and form the base of the food chain.

Introduction:

The living organisms on the basis of their relationship with other organisms related to the energy sources are organized into different trophic levels. The organisms, which utilize the sunlight energy to make their food, are known as producers. Those organisms, which obtain their food from the primary producers, are known as primary consumers. Further, the organisms, which depends on the primary consumes for their food requirements are known as secondary consumers.

Explanation of Solution

The protists include the majority of phytoplankton present in the ocean ecosystem. The protists are the eukaryotic organism that produces oxygen that is dissolved in the ocean and the other marine organism’s uptake the oxygen from the water. Also, the protists are the primary food source in the aquatic ecosystem for the other organisms

Due to the limited sunlight reaching the oceans, the production of the phytoplankton will get low because the raw material (sunlight) will not be present for them. This will cause the low food source for the other organism that feeds on the phytoplankton. Also, the increased temperature of the ocean water is directly affecting the phytoplankton’ production.

Conclusion

The phytoplankton production will be lowered by the climatic change, which will affect the whole food chain process because they will not be able to harvest the sunlight and produce their own food. Their number will be reduced, which will affect the other organisms who feed on them.