Plankton is composed of the phytoplankton (“The plants of the sea”) and zooplankton which are typically the tiny animals found near the surface in aquatic environments. Diatoms are a type of phytoplankton and are a typical food source for zooplankton. Polar Regions such as the Arctic Ocean’s Barents Sea, off the northern coast of Europe, experience continuous darkness for about three months of winter and continuous illumination for about three months during summer. The following graph illustrates the average total mass of Diatoms and zooplankton in the Barents Sea each month.

Based on this data, what can be concluded about the impact seasonal changes have on these organisms around the Barents Sea?

A. Due to the availability of solar energy, Diatom mass peaks in July.
B. Seasonal Changes have no impact on these organisms
C. The availability of solar energy limits photosynthetic productivity in winter months
D. During winter months the Diatom and zooplankton population completely die off due to the lack of sunlight.