Articles tagged with Phytoplankton
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A major study found that climate change could decline the diet quality of fish by up to 10% as zooplankton communities shift towards more carnivorous groups. This could exacerbate declines in fish biomass, with potential implications for human societies relying on fisheries for food and livelihoods.
Researchers examine phytoplankton blooms induced by tropical cyclones to predict climate change impacts. The study found a massive bloom in the wake of Cyclone Oma, which occurred once every 1500 years, and may indicate changes in ocean temperatures.
Researchers from China and Singapore study the radiative properties of polyamide-12, a common marine microplastic pollutant. They found that most of the incident radiation is scattered by PA12 particles, affecting ocean light transmission and marine ecology.
A University of British Columbia study suggests that jellyfish size can influence their nutritional value. The researchers found that larger jellyfish tend to have higher levels of healthy fats, making them potentially more nutritious.
Researchers found that a simple 19th century Secchi disk is effective in monitoring phytoplankton abundance, providing valuable long-term data on ocean changes. The tool's continued use supports scientists studying climate change, ecosystem health, and water quality.
A new study finds that coccolithophores, a common group of marine phytoplankton, dominate the production of calcium carbonate in the surface ocean. This process controls atmospheric CO2 levels and is crucial for understanding climate change and ocean acidification.
A study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics found that phytoplankton productivity in the Southern Ocean contributes to dense clouds that reflect sunlight. The high density of water droplets in these clouds helps regulate global temperatures and precipitation patterns.
A new study finds that salp blooms can offset as much CO2 as emitted by millions of cars, with some estimates suggesting up to 28,000 vehicles. Salps' unique features and rapid reproduction lead to large amounts of carbon being exported to the deep sea.
Dimethyl sulfide levels have increased in Arctic air over the past five decades, according to a study led by Hokkaido University. The team tracked the rise in emissions through measurements of methane sulfonic acid in Greenland ice cores, finding higher levels between 2002 and 2014.
A recent study found that heatwaves decrease phytoplankton biomass in a boreal lake by reducing the depth of the mixed layer. This reduction limits light and nutrient availability for photosynthesis.
A study by Noa Barak-Gavish and colleagues revealed that Roseobacter bacteria undergo a lifestyle switch from coexistence to pathogenicity when interacting with phytoplankton. This switch is triggered by the production of chemical compounds, allowing the bacteria to 'eat-and-run' in search of suitable hosts.
A University of Rhode Island professor's study has developed a macromolecular model of phytoplankton, which could have significant implications for climate research. The model predicts the variation in C:N:P ratios throughout the ocean, providing new insights into how phytoplankton respond to changing environmental conditions.
New study reveals marine algae adapt to nutrient-poor ocean conditions, sustaining productivity even in depleted waters. This 'metabolic hack' could impact global ocean productivity and carbon sequestration.
An international research team proposes using engineered nanoparticles to fertilize ocean plankton, encouraging growth and carbon dioxide uptake. The approach has been shown to be safe and effective in enhancing plankton growth through controlled release of nutrients.
A study found that ocean warming and acidification decrease the nutritional quality of coccolithophores, a crucial food source for zooplankton species. The study's experiment showed an increase in lipid availability under ocean warming but reduced nutritional content under acidification.
Researchers used NASA's Earth observing system to estimate light availability beneath Antarctic sea ice and found significant phytoplankton blooms in nearly all example floats. The study suggests that 50% or more of under-ice Antarctic waters may support blooms, potentially supporting life beneath the ice.
Researchers can now study microplankton at an individual level using holographic microscopy and AI, gaining a deeper understanding of their movement, growth, reproduction, and interactions. This breakthrough provides new insights into the ocean's oxygen production and carbon cycle.
Researchers found coastal embayments experience episodic hypoxic events and increased hypoxic conditions compared to open coastline. These areas are likely to be impacted by climate change and ecosystem changes.
The Arctic Ocean's pH is decreasing at a rate 3–4 times faster than in other oceans, with acidification impacting marine life. Sea butterflies, a key food source for whales, may face reduced availability due to increased carbon dioxide uptake.
Researchers have discovered that marine diazotrophic bacteria contribute directly to the biological carbon pump, exporting and sequestering carbon in the deep ocean. This process was previously attributed mainly to phytoplankton, but experts now understand that these microorganisms also store carbon on the seabed.
A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that the Tonga volcano eruption stimulated a rapid and massive bloom of ocean phytoplankton, covering an area nearly 40 times the size of Oahu within just 48 hours. The bloom was triggered by the deposition of volcanic ash, which supplied nutrients for phytoplankton growth.
Researchers have discovered that small eddies, swirling at the edges of massive ocean currents, are a key source of nutrients for phytoplankton. These nutrient-rich eddies help maintain healthy populations of phytoplankton, which are essential for carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change effects.
A study found that Synechococcus and heterotrophic bacteria have an inherent tendency toward mutualism, which can be re-established after environmental interference. The researchers discovered that the bacteria facilitated nitrogen fixation, converting nitrogen for use in buoying the phytoplankton.
Research from North Carolina State University and the International Research Laboratory Takuvik found that wildfire smoke in Siberia amplified a phytoplankton bloom in the Arctic Ocean. The bloom was larger than normal, requiring a substantial influx of new nitrogen supply to occur.
Oceanographers have discovered substantial subsurface phytoplankton layers deep beneath the eastern part of the Great Australian Bight, supporting rich marine biodiversity. This finding explains how the region's productivity survives even when surface phytoplankton blooms disappear during certain upwelling seasons.
Researchers predict plankton will store more carbon in the coming century due to climate warming. However, uncertainty remains for storage beyond the end of the century, which could impact future climate change.
Researchers at FAU Harbor Branch develop an ocean model to study connectivity between the Everglades and Florida Keys via Florida Bay. The tool aims to predict changes in responses to water management, ecological restoration and climate change.
Phytoplankton productivity in the Gulf of Maine has decreased by 65% over two decades, affecting marine ecosystems and fisheries. The study analyzed temperature, salinity, and chemical measurements from the Gulf of Maine North Atlantic Time Series to understand these changes.
A recent study led by Nagoya University found that human-made iron in the Southern Ocean may be up to ten times higher than previously thought, with a 60% contribution from fossil fuel combustion. This could lead to decreased photosynthesis and increased CO2 levels, exacerbating global warming.
A new study reveals that global warming will shift the timing of ocean plankton blooms, impacting the marine food web and potentially disrupting the delicate coupling between phytoplankton growth and zooplankton abundance. This change could have severe consequences for high-latitude regions.
New research uses surfboard samples to analyze seasonal changes in phytoplankton, a crucial component of ocean food chains. The study finds that phytoplankton levels nearshore and offshore are similar in autumn, winter and spring, but higher nearshore during summer months.
A new study by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences reveals that microbial life in the ocean is adapting to warmer conditions, maintaining vital processes despite climate change. The research found that carbon export was maintained as phytoplankton populations declined due to other small organisms taking up the slack.
A team of researchers found that many marine phytoplankton are voracious predators, consuming bacteria like Prochlorococcus and other primary production. This discovery reveals the complexity of ocean ecosystems and challenges traditional views of phytoplankton as solely photosynthetic organisms.
Researchers at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science found that marine snow particles help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, contributing to a more efficient carbon cycle. The discovery sheds light on how oxygen deficient zones play a crucial role in the Earth's carbon cycle.
A recent study used an eddy-resolving ocean model to analyze the seasonal changes in phytoplankton photosynthesis and storage of fixed carbon in the South China Sea. The research found that the biological carbon pump and microbial carbon pump play significant roles in sequestrating organic carbon.
New research reveals that Prochlorococcus thrive in ocean waters where a shared predator with bacteria and phytoplankton coexists, not just warm temperatures. The study suggests this relationship is crucial for the microbe's survival and population distribution.
A new UC Riverside-led study reveals that tiny microbes belching toxic gas helped cause and prolong the biggest mass extinction in Earth's history. The heat accelerated microbes' metabolisms, creating a deadly cycle of hydrogen sulfide production.
Phytoplankton are critical to life in ocean waters, and their seasonal availability is shifting due to climate change. Researchers found that carbon produced by phytoplankton is sinking into the deep ocean, impacting global nutrient availability and ocean ecosystems.
Researchers analyzed satellite data over two decades to understand how climate change impacts Red Sea marine ecosystem. Phytoplankton blooms show unique annual cycles, with four specific bioregions in the region experiencing different seasonal patterns.
Researchers developed a color-changing indicator that detects rising levels of alkaline phosphatase, forecasting phytoplankton growth and impending algal blooms. The portable system reliably detected enzyme activity using smartphone scanning apps, potentially enabling real-time field monitoring and prediction.
Researchers found that the 2013-2015 heatwave known as 'the Blob' reduced the Pacific Ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, leading to a decrease in its role as a carbon sink. Microbial communities responded by shifting towards more nutrient-limited conditions, hindering the ocean's biological pump.
Scientists from Stellenbosch University found that phytoplankton are active during winter in the Southern Ocean, contradicting previous assumptions. This discovery improves predictive global climate models and sheds light on adaptation strategies of phytoplankton under adverse growth conditions.
A new study suggests that climate change is displacing cold-water communities of algae with warm-adapted ones, threatening to destabilize the delicate marine food web. The research found a clear boundary between these communities at moderate water temperatures, highlighting the vulnerability of polar ecosystems.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that pyrogenic iron from Australian wildfires fertilized the Southern Ocean, leading to unprecedented algal blooms. This phenomenon raises concerns about the role of wildfires in spurring phytoplankton growth, which absorbs large quantities of climate-warming carbon dioxide.
A new study finds that female walruses in the Chukchi Sea rely on biomarkers from algae growing within sea ice as a primary food source. The researchers tracked these markers using liver tissues from harvested animals, revealing a difference in foraging behavior between males and females.
The deployment of thousands of autonomous robots called BGC-Argo floats is transforming our understanding of marine primary productivity on a global scale. By measuring oxygen production over time, researchers can estimate net primary productivity and shed light on the ocean's role in storing carbon.
Dicrateria rotunda is found to synthesize saturated hydrocarbons with carbon numbers ranging from 10 to 38, categorizing them as petrol, diesel oils, and fuel oils. The ability to produce these hydrocarbons is common to the entire Dicrateria genus.
A new study led by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences suggests that the balance of chemical elements in plankton is primarily dependent on the ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus supplied from the subsurface ocean. This discovery could improve the accuracy of computer models used to forecast ocean change.
Researchers from the University of Liège found that Lake Victoria's phytoplankton biomass decreased by seven times since the 1990s, while nutrient levels remained stable. Climate conditions, including wind intensity, significantly impact phytoplankton growth and food chain dynamics.
Researchers found that salp fecal pellets release more bioavailable iron than krill pellets, allowing phytoplankton to take up five times more iron. This could lead to increased CO2 fixation and a shift in the Southern Ocean's food web as climate change affects krill dominance.
Researchers at UCI used phytoplankton genome analysis to create a high-resolution map of nutrient stress in the world's oceans. The study found regions of elevated phosphorus stress, widespread adaptation to nitrogen stress, and previously unknown areas of iron stress.
A new study reveals that intense summer blooms of phytoplankton alter the structure of coastal benthic systems in Antarctica. The research team analyzed C and N stable isotopes to identify ecological niches of marine species, finding a significant geographical variation in carbon sources.
Researchers from GEOMAR have found that manganese, not iron, is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in some areas of the Southern Ocean. This finding has significant implications for understanding past changes and future climate change.