Surprise Discovery Could Rewrite the Global Carbon Cycle

Ocean diatoms, like Cylindrotheca closterium, build biomass by both photosynthesis and consuming organic carbon, a finding that may change our view of the global carbon cycle.
Recent research indicates that ocean-dwelling diatoms have more than one method for accumulating carbon. Besides photosynthesis, these single-celled plankton are also increasing their biomass by consuming organic carbon directly from the ocean. This discovery may prompt scientists to revise their estimates of the amount of carbon dioxide diatoms absorb from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Consequently, this could change our understanding of the global carbon cycle, which is particularly important in the context of climate change.