Phytoplankton
Articles tagged with Phytoplankton
Climate change may produce “fast-food” phytoplankton
A new study suggests that climate change will shift the balance of macromolecules in phytoplankton from proteins to carbohydrates and lipids, with a 20% increase expected by 2100. This could lead to an unbalanced diet for marine life, with implications for ocean health and human consumption.
Researchers uncover hidden genetic world in Antarctic Waters
Researchers have completed the most comprehensive survey of DNA associated with plankton in the Southern Ocean, revealing a vast genetic diversity that affects the carbon cycle. The study sheds light on the role of microbial ecosystems in climate change and highlights the need to understand how these genes control ocean chemistry.
Microscopic plankton reveal tropicalization of the Mediterranean Sea
A recent study identifies plankton tropicalization in the western Mediterranean, indicating ocean warming impacts on marine ecosystems. Rising sea surface temperatures alter the base of marine food webs, affecting planktonic primary producers and consumers.
Study reveals how ocean's most abundant bacteria diversify
Researchers discovered that SAR11 marine bacteria are organized into stable, ecologically distinct groups, adapted to specific environments such as coastal and open ocean. These findings provide new insights into the global ocean's life-support system and climate reactions to threats like pollution and ocean warming.
Deep ocean earthquakes drive Southern Ocean’s massive phytoplankton blooms, study finds
A new study found that deep underwater earthquakes can spur massive phytoplankton blooms at the ocean surface. Phytoplankton are microscopic, plant-like organisms that float in upper ocean layers and serve as the foundation of the oceanic food chain.
Algae and water fleas in lakes: Light color influences food webs
A recent study found that light color affects phytoplankton growth and nutrient cycling in lake ecosystems. The researchers discovered that the less light available to microalgae, the more important the color of light became for their growth.
Baltic diatoms remained genetically stable for millennia – then humans came into play
A recent study found that Baltic diatom populations experienced accelerated genetic changes in response to human activity, but remained stable for millennia. The research team extracted ancient DNA from sediment cores and sequenced the genetic material of two cell organelles to analyze changes over 8,000 years.
The salmon superfood you’ve never heard of
Researchers at Northern Arizona University have discovered a partnership between algae and bacteria that creates a clean-nitrogen machine, turning atmospheric nitrogen into food for river ecosystems. This discovery boosts populations of aquatic insects, which young salmon rely on for growth and survival.
Researchers quantify rate of essential evolutionary process in the ocean
A team of scientists has estimated that an average cell line acquires and retains roughly 13 percent of its genes every million years through lateral gene transfer. This process enables microbes to adapt to new environments and access essential nutrients. The study provides the first quantitative analysis of gene transfer rates across ...
New study illuminates how diatoms thrive in — and light up — the Southern Ocean
Researchers have identified diatoms as the dominant microorganisms in a previously mysterious area of the Southern Ocean. The study's findings suggest that diatoms are responsible for the high levels of reflectance observed in satellite images, providing new insights into carbon cycling and ocean biology.
Six decades of data on North Atlantic phytoplankton reveal that their biomass has decreased up to 2% annually across most of the Atlantic Ocean, with potentially widespread implications for the wider food web under climate change
Phytoplankton biomass in the North Atlantic has declined by up to 2% per year over six decades, potentially affecting the entire ocean's ecosystem. This decrease may have significant consequences under climate change.
Is the ocean getting darker?
The global ocean has experienced a significant reduction in the depth of its photic zones, home to 90% of all marine life, leading to widespread ocean darkening. This change could have profound implications for the planet's marine species and ecosystem services.
‘Cryosphere meltdown’ will impact Arctic marine carbon cycles and ecosystems, new study warns
A new study found that climate change may undermine the capacity of Arctic fjords to serve as effective carbon sinks, leading to a decline in sequestration carbon. Rapid changes are transforming fjord ecosystems, with phytoplankton communities shifting due to melting ice and warmer waters.
Kīlauea volcano’s ash prompted largest open ocean phytoplankton bloom
A recent study found that volcanic ash from Kīlauea prompted a rare and large summertime phytoplankton bloom in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. The blooms were stimulated by iron and other trace elements in the ash, producing massive growth of nitrogen-fixing microbes and organic matter.
Scientists link a phytoplankton bloom to starving dolphins in Florida
Researchers found that a phytoplankton bloom in Florida's Indian River Lagoon damaged habitats, deprived bottlenose dolphins of nutritious prey, leading to sharp rises in strandings and deaths. The study linked the bloom to changes in dolphin diets, showing a shift from less energy-dense fish to more energy-dense sea bream.
Long-term data prompts rethink on regional differences in ocean carbon sequestration
Researchers from the University of Oxford challenge the long-held assumption that water temperature determines the efficiency of ocean carbon capture. The study highlights the need for standardized data collection methods and improved monitoring in polar regions to better understand this critical process.
A new system to study phytoplankton: Crucial species for planet Earth
A new tool measures how individual phytoplankton cells are using energy, revealing unique ways each species adjusts to light changes. This helps predict and observe ocean responses to climate change and assess phytoplankton health.
Pairing old and new technologies could unlock advances in plankton science
The study highlights the potential of novel techniques to collect and analyse plankton data more efficiently, filling knowledge gaps and generating complete pictures of plankton dynamics. However, integrating old and new methods is crucial to ensure accurate assessments of marine biodiversity.
Tiny poops in the ocean may help solve the carbon problem
A Dartmouth-led study suggests using clay to convert CO2 into food for zooplankton, which expel it as carbon-filled feces in the deep sea. This method accelerates the ocean's natural cycle for removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Of tiny organisms and their giant impact on the ocean
Professor Susanne Neuer receives Excellence Professorship for her research on the biological carbon pump, a crucial mechanism in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. Her work highlights the importance of tiny ocean organisms in forming sinking particles that transport carbon into the deep ocean.
Hokkaido University and JAL Group to commence world's first regular flight-based ocean observation
The collaboration aims to detect red tide occurrences early and provide information to fisheries stakeholders to prevent damage to marine environments. The system will also be used for broader environmental monitoring of forests and oceans, improving accuracy through repeated validation.
Oh buoy! Curtin and NASA unlock ocean secrets from space
Researchers have deployed a buoy off the coast of Perth to measure algae levels and improve satellite data accuracy for NASA's PACE mission. The project aims to study the impact of phytoplankton on ocean health and climate regulation, with potential benefits in combating climate change.
Remote control eddies: Upwelled nutrients boost productivity around Hawaiian Islands
A new study reveals that ocean eddies off the leeward side of Hawaiian Islands supply nutrients to both sides of the island chain, stimulating blooms of phytoplankton and boosting biological productivity. This mechanism may also impact fisheries near Hawaii and other nutrient-poor regions.
Global fleet of undersea robots reveal the phytoplankton hidden beneath the ocean's surface
A global network of Biogeochemical (BGC)-Argo floats provides depth-resolved monitoring of Earth's phytoplankton biomass, revealing 50% of biomass lies beyond satellite detection. The study also shows surface Chla does not accurately predict peak annual biomass timing in two-thirds of the ocean.
Plankton balloon to six times their size in newly discovered mode of oceanic travel
A species of bioluminescent phytoplankton, Pyrocystis noctiluca, has been found to balloon to six times its original size, allowing it to journey up to 200 meters toward the ocean's surface. This unique strategy enables the plankton to control its density and escape the downward pull of gravity.
Loss of lake ice has wide-ranging environmental and societal consequences
The world's freshwater lakes are freezing over for shorter periods due to climate change, affecting more than a billion people worldwide. Changes in ice duration have major implications for human safety, water quality, biodiversity, and global nutrient cycles.
Climate change, drought, dust, and plankton blooms
A study links droughts in Southern Africa to a massive plankton bloom off Madagascar's southeast coast. Climate warming intensified the dust particles carried by wind, which acted as fertilizer in seawater, creating ideal conditions for phytoplankton growth.
‘Invisible forest’ of algae thrives as ocean warms
Phytoplankton biomass has increased in subsurface waters due to ocean warming, while surface phytoplankton's total biomass remains stable despite reduced chlorophyll levels. The findings highlight the limitations of satellite observations and underscore the urgent need for improved global monitoring of deep-living phytoplankton.
Ice cores show pollution's impact on Arctic atmosphere
A Dartmouth-led study found that air pollution from fossil fuels reaches the remote Arctic, altering its fundamental atmospheric chemistry. The researchers detected declines in methanesulfonic acid, a biomarker linked to phytoplankton productivity, which plummeted in environments high in emissions.
Oceanic life found to be thriving thanks to Saharan dust blown from thousands of kilometers away
Researchers found that Saharan dust blown thousands of kilometers away increases oceanic life by making iron more accessible through atmospheric reactions. The study measured bioreactive and total iron in Atlantic Ocean drill cores, revealing a relationship between distance traveled and bioreactivity.
Ocean twilight zone modulates marine phytoplankton productivity
The ocean's twilight zone plays a crucial role in regulating marine phytoplankton productivity, which is essential for the marine food chain. Researchers have found that warming temperatures can strengthen the recycling of nutrients between the ocean layers, with significant implications for climate change projections.
Study: Weaker ocean circulation could enhance CO2 buildup in the atmosphere
Weaker ocean circulation may lead to increased carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere due to a previously uncharacterized feedback loop involving iron, upwelling nutrients, and ligands. The study challenges current thinking on the ocean's role in storing carbon.
Plankton researchers urge their colleagues to mix it up
Researchers propose eight research questions to improve mixoplankton classification and study their role in the food web. This knowledge is crucial for predicting ocean ecosystem changes under climate change.
Dariusz Stramski selected as 2024 recipient of the Nils Gunnar Jerlov Medal
Dariusz Stramski has made significant impacts on ocean optics with his research spanning radiative transfer and innovative technologies. His work has explored interactions of light with marine particles and has developed novel reductionist concepts to advance inverse optical models.
How heatwaves are affecting Arctic phytoplankton
Experiments at AWIPEV Station reveal phytoplankton's behavior primarily depends on cooling phases after or between heatwaves, not just increased temperatures. This knowledge gap highlights the need for investigating temperature fluctuations to improve forecasts on biodiversity changes.
Long-term ocean sampling in Narragansett Bay reveals plummeting plankton levels: impact uncertain for local food web
Researchers have found that phytoplankton biomass in Narragansett Bay declined by 49% from 1968 to 2019, with the winter-spring bloom occurring earlier each year. The decrease in phytoplankton levels may indicate resilience in the face of climate change.
Webb telescope probably didn’t find life on an exoplanet — yet
A new study challenges the initial detection of a biosignature gas on K2-18b, suggesting that the data may be inconclusive. However, researchers believe it's possible for life to produce detectable levels of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the planet's atmosphere.
Numerical models for a better understanding of long-term effects on lake ecosystems
Numerical models help assess ecological impacts of climate change on lakes by simulating changes in phytoplankton composition and community stability. The study found that warming increased seasonal variability in phytoplankton, leading to reduced overall evenness and increased species loss over time.
Lake ecosystems: Nitrogen has been underestimated
A study reveals that nitrogen plays a crucial role in phytoplankton growth in shallow lakes worldwide, contradicting traditional limnological consensus. The research team analyzed data from 159 lakes and found that 60% exhibit dual-nutrient limitation, where both phosphorus and nitrogen affect phytoplankton growth.
Walleye struggle with changes to timing of spring thaw
A new study reveals that walleye are struggling to survive in warming waters of the Midwestern United States and Canada. Climate change is disrupting the historical pairing of ice-off and walleye spawning, which threatens the persistence of walleye populations across the Upper Midwest.
Small but mighty – study highlights the abundance and importance of the ocean’s tiniest inhabitants
A new study reveals tiny plankton (0.02mm) make up majority of ocean plankton, playing critical role in ecosystem health and oxygen production. The research emphasizes the need to take these tiny organisms seriously and incorporate them into global ocean policy.
New research shows how pollutants from aerosols and river run-off are changing the marine phosphorus cycle in coastal seas
New research reveals how human activities affect the marine phosphorus cycle in coastal seas, leading to changes in coastal biodiversity and ecosystem services. The study identifies an 'Anthropogenic Nitrogen Pump' that reduces phosphate levels, limiting algae growth, and enhances the utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus.
How waves and mixing drive coastal upwelling systems
Researchers found that coastal trapped waves and tidal mixing control primary production in the tropical Angolan upwelling system. Productivity peaks occur seasonally, with strong fluctuations during austral winter.
Climate change threatens fish supply: tiny phytoplankton, big consequences
A new study reveals that climate change is silently eroding the ocean's ability to provide fish by reducing plankton levels, leading to significant drops in fish stocks. The research found that even small declines in phytoplankton can result in much bigger drops in fish populations due to an amplifying mechanism within the food web.
Exploring dimethylsulfoniopropionate production by freshwater phytoplankton in lake Baikal
Researchers from Kumamoto University found that freshwater phytoplankton in Lake Baikal produce DMSP abundantly, which acts as an osmolyte and protects the phytoplankton against osmotic pressure. The study reveals a cryoprotective role of DMSP for the survival of planktons in freshwater ice.
Adapting to hypoxia: Zooplankton influence the efficiency of the biological carbon pump in the Humboldt Current off Peru
A new study reveals that zooplankton species in the Humboldt Current off Peru can attenuate the export of carbon to the deep sea by consuming sinking particles. This challenge the previously prevailing assumption of a uniformly efficient biological carbon pump in oxygen minimum zones.
North Atlantic’s marine productivity may not be declining, according to new study of older ice cores
A new study by the University of Washington challenges previous findings of declining phytoplankton in the North Atlantic. The researchers analyzed an ice core from central Greenland and found that human-generated pollutants changed the atmosphere's chemistry, offsetting a decrease in marine productivity.
Uptake of methylmercury by phytoplankton is controlled by thiols
A new study reveals that methylmercury uptake in phytoplankton is influenced by the presence of thiols in water. Thiols bind mercury strongly, limiting its availability to organisms. This process can result in dramatic enrichment of methylmercury levels in aquatic environments.
Bizarre new fossils shed light on ancient plankton
A new study has discovered microfossils resembling modern-day algae that lived in the oceans during the Cambrian Period, around half a billion years ago. The findings suggest that early animals were evolving to feed on plankton, starting a predator-prey relationship that continues to this day.
What phytoplankton physiology has to do with global climate
A study reveals that variable C:N:P ratios of phytoplankton are essential for regulating dissolved oceanic nutrient ratios, while also influencing atmospheric CO2 levels on geological time scales. The findings challenge the commonly hypothesized strong link between phytoplankton and seawater nutrient ratios.
Discovery of a new calcifying phytoplankton species off Bermuda
Researchers have discovered a new species of calcifying phytoplankton, Calciopappus curvus, found in the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda. The species is distinct from others in its genus and boasts intricate skeletons that may aid movement or protection.
Historic red tide event of 2020 fueled by plankton super swimmers
A historic red tide event in 2020 was caused by an exceptionally dense bloom of Lingulodinium polyedra, a plankton species that can swim and outgrow its competitors, leading to harmful algal blooms. The study validated a 50-year-old hypothesis and highlighted the exceptional swimming ability of dinoflagellates.
Assessing controls on ocean productivity – from space
Scientists have developed a new method to study phytoplankton nutrient limitations using satellite remote sensing technologies, providing insights into the global ocean's carbon cycle. The research found that phytoplankton were limited by either iron or nitrogen, leading to distinct fluorescence signals detected by satellites.
Microalgae vs. mercury
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered that some phytoplankton can degrade methylmercury even without sunlight. This finding enhances the prediction and accuracy of mercury-cycling models, reducing risks to human health and the environment.
Phenomenal phytoplankton: Scientists uncover cellular process behind oxygen production
Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown process in marine phytoplankton that accounts for between 7% to 25% of all oxygen produced and carbon fixed in the ocean. This discovery sheds light on how tiny organisms contribute to global oxygen production, with potential implications for our understanding of evolution.
Scientists provide first field observations of coccolithophore osmotrophy
New research from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences reveals that coccolithophores can survive in low-light conditions by taking up dissolved organic forms of carbon. This finding challenges current understanding of the biological and alkalinity pumps driving carbon transport in the ocean.
Global warming puts whales in the Southern Ocean on a diet
Research from Aarhus University reveals that right whales in the Southern Ocean have become thinner over the past 30 years due to declining krill populations. The whales' food source is shrinking as warmer waters reduce phytoplankton growth, leading to less krill and ultimately affecting their ability to fatten up before winter.
Like ancient mariners, ancestors of Prochlorococcus microbes rode out to sea on exoskeleton particles
A new study proposes that ancestors of Prochlorococcus microbes used chitin particles as rafts to venture into the open ocean. This enabled them to evolve new abilities and eventually thrive in the nutrient-poor waters, playing a crucial role in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Scientists begin to unravel global role of atmospheric dust in nourishing oceans
New research reveals that atmospheric dust supports 4.5% of global annual carbon export production through phytoplankton growth, with regional variation up to 20-40%. This pathway helps regulate atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and mitigate climate change.