Phytoplankton response to a warming ocean
In: Science (Washington). American Association for the Advancement of Science: New York, N.Y. ISSN 0036-8075; e-ISSN 1095-9203, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Sepúlveda, J.
- Cantarero, S.I.
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| Abstract |
Phytoplankton, a diverse group of small photosynthetic algae inhabiting the sunlit region near the ocean surface, form the base of marine trophic webs (1). Whereas phytoplankton have evolved in tandem with the climate system for hundreds of millions of years (2), cumulative greenhouse gas emissions are causing rising ocean temperature, acidification, and oxygen loss at increasing rates (3). How phytoplankton will respond and adapt to these multistressors in the future (4), and how this will in turn threaten marine trophic webs and food supply for humans, remain important questions in oceanography. On page 1487 of this issue, Holm et al. (5) show that a physiological adaptation of phytoplankton to a warming world will lead to a reduction in their nutritional value, with negative consequences for marine ecosystems. |
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