[Carry_Okie]

Benthic phytoplankton start at the surface and sink.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

So they fall to their death?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Found this:

Phytoplankton and Benthic Algae

So is it Benthic Algae you are referring to?

Found this from researchers at South Florida:

The Role of Phytoplankton in Benthic-Pelagic Coupling

The quote from the CNN article that started this thread:

"The dispersant is moving the oil down out of the surface and into the deeper waters, where it can affect phytoplankton and other marine life," said John Paul, a marine microbiologist at USF.