Phytoplankton microbiome

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/phytoplankton-microbiome

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the microbiome domicile?Epiphytic and endophytic associations on phytoplankton cells
2. What is the key microbial roles?Nutrient acquisition (N, P, Fe), detoxification, defense, organic matter remineralization
3. What are phytoplankton's tiny friends?They are bacteria, archaea, viruses, and very small eukaryotes that live on or inside phytoplankton cells. Together they form a community called the phytoplankton microbiome.
4. How do these tiny friends help phytoplankton grow?They give phytoplankton extra nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron, and they can protect them from viruses and tiny predators. This makes the phytoplankton healthier and helps the ocean make more oxygen.

Phytosphere: The microenvironment surrounding or within phytoplankton cells, inhabited by microbes.
Epiphytic: Growing or living on the surface of a plant.
Endophytic: Growing or living within plant tissues.
Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship where both interacting species benefit.