Chaetoceros is planktonic diatoms and known to be the largest genus with 400 described species. It has a cell wall made up of silica containing long thin spins. These spines connect the cell walls together to form a colony of cells.
Due to its high rate of growth and high lipid concentration, they can be used as bio fuel. Colonies of chaetoceros act as an important food source inside the water and they are major contributor of carbon.
In north water, they contribute 91% of the total phytoplankton cells thus acting as an important producer in the area. This contributes to the production of oxygen in north water. Total phytoplankton contributes to half of the oxygen production of Earth.
In this way, chaetoceros contribute to global atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
