Calcareous nannoplankton are microscopic, planktonic algae—primarily coccolithophores—that produce calcite (CaCO₃) platelets called coccoliths, typically 2–20 µm in size, which contribute substantially to marine carbonate production and sedimentation. They play a key role in the global carbon cycle through both organic carbon fixation via photosynthesis and inorganic carbon export via biogenic calcite. Their high abundance, rapid evolution, and widespread distribution make calcareous nannoplankton and their fossil remains (calcareous nannofossils) essential biostratigraphic and paleoceanographic proxies, enabling detailed reconstruction of past sea-surface conditions, ocean chemistry, and climate dynamics across Mesozoic and Cenozoic successions.
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