Final answer:
The small size and spherical shape of phytoplankton increase the surface area-to-volume ratio, facilitating nutrient and waste exchange, essential for their survival. Elements like nitrogen and iron can limit phytoplankton growth; adding them to deficient areas can boost growth. Phytoplankton can also inhabit water films surrounding soil particles due to their size.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small size and spherical shape of phytoplankton provide crucial advantages for their survival and efficiency in nutrient uptake. Being microscopic and spherical means they have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, which is beneficial for maximizing the exchange of nutrients and wastes. This ratio decreases as a cell's size increases, so maintaining a small size ensures that the surface area is large enough to efficiently support the processes needed for its increased volume. When nutrients diffuse into the cell, they have to travel less distance in a spherical shape compared to other shapes, leading to faster exchange rates.
Moreover, in different parts of the oceans, elements such as nitrogen and iron can be limiting factors for phytoplankton growth. In the Atlantic Ocean, the availability of nitrogen is more critical, while in the Pacific Ocean, iron is the limiting factor. Therefore, the addition of these elements in areas where they are deficient could boost the growth of phytoplankton.
Phytoplankton's small size not only makes them efficient in water but also allows them to thrive in the films of water surrounding soil particles, extending their habitat range beyond just the aquatic environment.