For more than half a century, Bigelow Laboratory researchers have studied the foundation of global ocean health. That’s why we’re so excited to celebrate #CoccolithophoreDay and splash these important microbes across screens everywhere!
For the uninitiated, coccolithophores (like the one shown) are single-celled marine phytoplankton. They build shells made of calcium carbonate plates, produce oxygen, and absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. As if that wasn’t incredible enough: their blooms are even visible from space!
While we appreciate all the microorganisms we study, coccos have a special place in our hearts.
Join us in celebrating by sharing this post. Help us give these tiny organisms the recognition they deserve. They’ve been shaping Earth’s climate since long before humans existed.
Want to learn more? Check out the e-book “Ultra-Fine Art of Coccolithophores” by Barney Balch, a senior research scientist emeritus, on our website.
Happy International Coccolithophore Day!
📸: Colin Fischer.
