Editing Prochlorococcus (section)

==Ecology==
Ancestors of ''Prochlorococcus'' contributed to the production of early atmospheric oxygen.<ref>{{Citation |title=The tiny creature that secretly powers the planet {{!}} Penny Chisholm | date=23 July 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylOlZz7s52Q |language=en |access-date=2022-04-26}}</ref> Despite ''Prochlorococcus'' being one of the smallest types of marine phytoplankton in the world's oceans, its substantial number make it responsible for a major part of the oceans', world's photosynthesis, and oxygen production.<ref name="www.hup.harvard.edu" /> The size of ''Prochlorococcus'' (0.5 to 0.7&nbsp;μm)<ref name="Partensky" /> and the adaptations of the various ecotypes allow the organism to grow abundantly in low nutrient waters such as the waters of the tropics and the subtropics (c. 40°N to 40°S);<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Partensky |first1=F.  |last2=Blanchot  |first2=J. |last3=Vaulot |first3=D. |title=Differential distribution and ecology of ''Prochlorococcus'' and ''Synechococcus'' in oceanic waters: a review|journal=Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique de Monaco |date=1999 |issue=spécial 19 |page=431 |issn=0304-5722}}</ref> however, they can be found in higher latitudes as high up as 60° north but at fairly minimal concentrations and the bacteria's distribution across the oceans suggest that the colder waters could be fatal. This wide range of latitude along with the bacteria's ability to survive up to depths of 100 to 150&nbsp;metres, i.e. the average depth of the mixing layer of the surface ocean, allows it to grow to enormous numbers, up to {{Val|3|e=27}} individuals worldwide.<ref name=Flombaum13 /> This enormous number makes the ''Prochlorococcus'' play an important role in the global [[carbon cycle]] and oxygen production. Along with ''[[Synechococcus]]'' (another genus of cyanobacteria that co-occurs with ''Prochlorococcus'') these cyanobacteria are responsible for approximately 50% of marine carbon fixation, making it an important [[carbon sink]] via the biological carbon pump (i.e. the transfer of organic carbon from the surface ocean to the deep via several biological, physical and chemical processes).<ref>{{cite journal|first1=Fei-Xue|last1=Fu|first2=Mark E.|last2=Warner|first3=Yaohong|last3=Zhang|first4=Yuanyuan|last4=Feng|first5=David A.|last5=Hutchins|title=Effects of Increased Temperature and CO<sub>2</sub> on Photosynthesis, Growth, and Elemental Ratios in Marine ''Synechococcus'' and ''Prochlorococcus'' (Cyanobacteria)|journal=Journal of Phycology|date=16 May 2007|volume=43|issue=3|pages=485–496|doi=10.1111/j.1529-8817.2007.00355.x|bibcode=2007JPcgy..43..485F |s2cid=53353243}}</ref> The abundance, distribution and all other characteristics of the ''Prochlorococcus'' make it a key organism in oligotrophic waters serving as an important primary producer to the open ocean food webs.