show that the deep-sea fossil record bears a rock record bias similar to the one that is widely accepted to affect the land-based fossil record. Impact on the oceans The coccolithophorids help in regulating the temperature of the oceans. They thrive in warm seas and release dimethyl sulfide (DMS) into the air whose nuclei help to produce thicker clouds to block the sun. When the oceans cool, the number of coccolithophorids decrease and the amount of clouds also decrease. When there are fewer clouds blocking the sun, the temperature also rises. This, therefore, maintains the balance and equilibrium of nature. See also CLAW hypothesis Dimethyl sulfide Dimethylsulfoniopropionate Emiliania huxleyi virus 86 Pleurochrysis carterae References External links Sources of detailed information Nannotax3 – illustrated guide to the taxonomy of coccolithophores and other nannofossils. INA — International Nannoplankton Association Emiliania huxleyi Home Page Introductions to coccolithophores University of California, Berkeley. Museum of Paleontology: "Introduction to the Prymnesiophyta". The Paleontology Portal: Calcareous Nanoplankton RadioLab – podcast on coccolithophores Haptophytes Microfossils Extant Late Triassic first appearances Planktology Sedimentology de:Haptophyta