Final answer:
In the epipelagic areas where nutrients are not available, picoplankton, tiny photosynthetic organisms, feed on the DOM (dissolved organic matter), so its energy can be restored to the ecosystem. Ocean upwelling brings nutrients from the bottom of the ocean back to the surface, making them available for reuse by other organisms. Phytoplankton, including picoplankton, capture energy from the sun and convert it into glucose, supporting the rest of the ecosystem.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the epipelagic areas where nutrients are not available, picoplankton, which are tiny photosynthetic organisms, feed on the DOM (dissolved organic matter), so its energy can be restored to the ecosystem.
The availability of nutrients in aquatic systems is crucial for energy and photosynthesis. Many organisms that die in open water sink to the ocean floor, sequestering their energy unless ocean upwelling occurs. Ocean upwelling brings nutrients from the bottom of the ocean back to the surface, making them available for reuse by other organisms.
Phytoplankton, including picoplankton, are an essential part of the ocean's food chain and contribute to about half of the energy flow in the Earth's biosphere through photosynthesis. They capture energy from the sun and convert it into glucose, supporting the rest of the ecosystem.