Emiliana huxleyi
Emiliana Huxleyi is a species of single-celled planktonic
algae. Named after
Thomas Huxley, it is the globally most significant
coccolithophore. Its coccoliths are pure white, so they reflect light very efficiently in the water column. This, and the high concentrations caused by continual shedding of their coccoliths makes Emiliana Huxleyi blooms easily visible from space.
Satellite images show that blooms can cover large areas (possibly >100,000 square kilometers
1), with complimentary shipboard measurements indicating that Emiliana Huxleyi is by far the dominant
phytoplankton species under these conditions.
External links
- 1Emiliana Huxleyi