I did not realize when I took Cell Biology how important it is in Marine Biology or coral reef conservation and restoration. You do not think about the fact that phytoplankton produces at least 50% of the earth’s oxygen or about the symbiotic relationship of zooxanthellae and coral. Both Phytoplankton and Zooxanthellae are single cell organisms. To think about something that small is such a powerhouse. Both are critical for our planet and oceans. We do not think about it in terms of how necessary zooxanthellae are to communities along the ocean that rely on coral reefs; for everything from safety from some of the most severe weather events coming off the ocean, to food, or even a source of income. And well without oxygen I guess we all would be in trouble.