<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="false"><li>Zooplankton, including copepods, krill, and salps, have been found to play a significant role in slowing global warming by storing carbon dioxide deep underwater.</li><li>During spring and summer, zooplankton consume phytoplankton, descend into deeper waters around Antarctica to hibernate, burn off fat created from eating phytoplankton, and release carbon dioxide, storing carbon deep under the ocean.</li><li>Research published in the journal Limnology and Oceanography revealed that zooplankton transport 65 million tons of carbon annually to the depths of the Southern Ocean, equivalent to emissions from 55 million diesel cars.</li><li>Although zooplankton are beneficial in combating climate change, they face long-term risks due to climate change impacts like higher water temperatures, disturbances to ocean layers, and commercial harvesting, threatening their existence.</li></ul>

We have a surprising underwater ally in combatting climate change: zooplankton

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