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Phytoplankton are a form of algae, a plant-like protist. Phytoplankton get energy through photosynthesis anda  are responsible for a lot of the earths oxygen. Phytoplankton however can prey on other organisms if there is not enough light available, mainly bacteria. The bacteria grow from taking carbon from the environment, and the plankton release a lot of that carbon so the bacteria will grow and they can eat them. When there is less light and nutrients, the plankton will eat the bacteria. The increase in phytoplankton eating bacteria leads to a decrease in oxygen production and an increase in carbon dioxide as when they eat the bacteria they do not use photosynthesis and instead consume oxygen. By adding bacteria with fluorescent die to the water, it becomes easier to track the bacteria so we can understand how the plankton eat them. 

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