We have a surprising underwater ally in combatting climate change: zooplankton

Odds are you aren't too familiar with the group of animals called zooplankton, which include copepods, krill and salps. On land, they're most commonly used as fish food. Underwater, however, they've been quietly making a substantial contribution to slowing global warming. The BBC reported on the latest research into zooplankton by an international team, published in the journal Limnology and Oceanography, that detailed just how much these tiny critters have been impacting the planet's temperature.<br /> In the spring and summer time, the animals consume phytoplankon, which are photosynthesizing bacteria and organisms that live on the ocean's surface. After gorging themselves on this feast, zooplankton descend into the deeper waters around Antarctica to hibern [...]