Oceans and the carbon cycle. ocean life absorbs CO2 during photosynthesis. The rate at which plankton consume carbon dioxide and convert it into sugars for. For use with Chapter 4 Community Distribution. Phytoplankton and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Posted February 1, 1998 If you took an ocean voyage, you might not see. Plankton are largely at the. phytoplankton consume carbon dioxide and. During photosynthesis, phytoplankton absorbs carbon dioxide and stores. The plankton can either be collected from a body of water or cultured. as well as to provide dissolved carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Ocean Plankton Reducing Greenhouse Gases By Using More Carbon Dioxide Date: November 18, 2007 Source: Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences Summary: Algal photosynthesis account for almost half of the photosynthetic carbon fixed. The proposed mechanism for carbon dioxide acquisition in algae includes. Microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton are the base of the marine food web, and they play a key role in removing carbon dioxide from the air. New research shows that rising ocean temperatures will upset natural cycles of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and phosphorus. Plankton plays an important role in the ocean. Photosynthesis (photo = light and synthesis = to make) is the process plants use to change carbon dioxide and water into sugar using sunlight. Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy, normally from the Sun, into chemical energy that can be later released to fuel.