Emiliania huxleyi

Emiliania huxleyi is a tiny, single-celled marine organism known as a coccolithophore. It forms vast, glowing blooms in the ocean, contributing significantly to Earth's carbon cycle by absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. These organisms produce intricate calcium carbonate shells called coccoliths, which can accumulate on the sea floor over time, forming chalk and limestone deposits. They play a vital role in marine ecosystems, supporting food webs, and influencing global climate regulation through their impact on ocean chemistry and carbon storage.