The Department of Ecology at the College of Science, University of Basra, organized a workshop on the mechanisms of the biological pump and its role in regulating the global carbon balance.

The workshop aimed to highlight the crucial role of phytoplankton in mitigating the effects of climate change.

The workshop, presented by Dr. Ibtihal Musa Jaafar, a faculty member in the Department of Ecology, included a study of the biological pathways that carbon atoms take from the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans and aquatic environments, and the role of phytoplankton in converting CO2 into organic matter and transporting it through the food chain.

The workshop recommended intensifying field studies on the capacity of local ecosystems (such as marshes and coastal areas) to sequester carbon and reduce pollutants that affect the biological activity of phytoplankton to ensure the continued function of the biological pump.