According to a recent study, there has been a ten-fold increase of the population of planktons in the ocean since 1965 up to 2010. The startling increase in the numbers of plankton, a small microscopic organism, has been linked with the increase of carbon dioxide levels.
Anand Gnandesikarn, an associate professor at John Hopkins University, said that every year since 1965, it was just at least two percent growth of planktons. It spiked up to 20 percent since the 90s. That is a quicker rate than what it should be.
Sir Alister Hardy Foundation (SAHFOS) Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) explains that the overpopulation of the planktons in the ocean is a disadvantage to the ocean's ecosystem.
For one, planktons block out the sunlight, which some of the plants underneath the ocean still need. Another, too much planktons could choke the fish under the sea.
While it has a negative effect on the ocean's ecosystem, one can't still conclude if it is bad for the planet overall.
What the scientists are after though is the balance of the population of all the creatures in the ocean. If there is a drastic leap in one area, other areas would be affected.
As residents of this planet, we have to do things to minimize our carbon footprint. The following are suggestions to do this:
1. Instead of using the car, see if you could commute, walk or ride a bicycle.
2. Instead of using plastic, use paper bugs.
3. Make sure to buy energy-efficient appliances.
4. Turn off lighting when not in use.
5. Eat local and/or organic produce.
6. Eat more fruits and vegetables than meat.
7. Buy food that you can actually consume. Do not waste food.
8. Minimize usage of water.
9. Try to reuse and recycle.
10. Support various environmental drives.
11. Support cleaner alternative energy sources such as solar panels.
