The following six (6) items consist of two statements, Statement I and

The following six (6) items consist of two statements, Statement I and Statement II. Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement I :
Phytoplankton produce most of the organic carbon in the ocean.
Statement II :
Algae are produced in the cold water biome.

[amp_mcq option1=”Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I” option2=”Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I” option3=”Statement I is true but Statement II is false” option4=”Statement I is false but Statement II is true” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2018

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Statement I is true: Phytoplankton are microscopic marine algae and cyanobacteria that perform photosynthesis. They are the primary producers in the ocean and are responsible for producing a vast majority of the organic carbon through photosynthesis, forming the base of the marine food web. Statement II is false: While algae exist and are productive in cold water biomes (like polar oceans during spring blooms), they are also abundant and diverse in temperate and tropical waters. Algae are found in virtually all aquatic and moist terrestrial environments globally, not exclusively in cold water biomes.

– Phytoplankton are crucial for marine ecosystems and the global carbon cycle.
– They contribute significantly to atmospheric oxygen production.
– Algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms found in a wide range of habitats with varying temperatures.

Estimates suggest that phytoplankton photosynthesis accounts for about half of the total global primary production. Different species of algae are adapted to different temperature ranges, from hot springs to polar seas.

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