Given that researchers have determined there is a significant decrease in the population of phytoplankton compared to the previous year, they can conclude:
The plankton as a carbon sink will be less than expected, but the plankton as a carbon source will be greater than expected.
This is because phytoplankton play a crucial role in carbon sequestration (acting as a carbon sink) by absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. A decrease in their population would typically mean that their carbon sink capacity is reduced. However, fewer phytoplankton can lead to increased decomposition and respiration by bacteria and other organisms, thereby potentially increasing carbon release into the atmosphere (acting as a carbon source).
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