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Article: Scientists fit another piece of global-warming puzzle: Bacteria smaller than a speck are identified as food for plankton plants, which break down carbon dioxide.(USA)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- August 9, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Robert C. Cowen Special to The Christian Science Monitor
Tiny, previously unknown bacteria are turning out to be key sustainers of ocean life and its ability to sequester global-warming carbon dioxide.
Like the bacteria that live on the roots of peas and beans, these marine microbes take nitrogen from the air and "fix" it in chemical forms that fertilize plants.
Microscopic marine plants feed microscopic animals. This mix of floating organisms, known collectively as plankton, underlies all marine food chains. That's why scientists call the tiny plants the grass of the sea.
Now you can extend that metaphor to call ...