Ocean phytoplankton and algae produce 70-80% of the earths atmospheric oxygen. Why is tree conservation for oxygen so popular over ocean conservation then?

Question

Ocean phytoplankton and algae produce 70-80% of the earths atmospheric oxygen. Why is tree conservation for oxygen so popular over ocean conservation then?

In: Biology

Answer 1

I’m by no means an expert, but while in college I worked on a project for a local aquarium (for one of the Great Lakes). My hazy memory is that while algae and other water-based plants do produce more oxygen than trees, they pull that oxygen out of the water to do so. If the water has too much algae the fish can actually “suffocate” because the oxygen levels in the water are too low.