Plankton

Study provides detailed assessment of shifts in toxin producing phytoplankton abundance

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.

Managed wetlands a culinary hot spot for SF bay fish, but they need delivery options

A study from the University of California, Davis, reveals that managed wetlands in Suisun Marsh produce 11-22 times more zooplankton than tidal habitats. Zooplankton are crucial for fish diets and increase in response to controlled floods.

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.

Plastic pollution promotes hazardous water conditions, new study finds

A new study by University of California San Diego researchers found that fossil fuel plastics can amplify harmful algae blooms by killing off zooplankton, leading to an increase in algal concentrations. In contrast, biodegradable plastics had a smaller impact on zooplankton and algal communities.

Evidence of ‘lightning-fast’ evolution found after dino-killing asteroid impact

New research reveals that life rebounded astonishingly quickly after the asteroid impact, with new species of plankton emerging in fewer than 2,000 years. The study uses an isotope marker to determine the age of sediments and finds that complex life reestablished within a geologic heartbeat.

Marine heatwaves have hidden impacts on ocean food webs and carbon cycling

A new study found that marine heatwaves impact the base of ocean food webs, changing carbon cycling in the process. However, the effects of the two heatwaves were not consistent, with one causing a 'conveyor belt' to jam and increasing the risk of carbon returning to the atmosphere.

Small change, big impact

A study has found that high-latitude phytoplankton communities responded to a pre-PETM warming event, highlighting the importance of examining background intervals in determining ecosystem change. The results suggest even small environmental changes can have dramatic impacts on marine ecosystems.

From kelp to whales: marine heatwaves are reshaping ocean life

A recent study found that the 2014-2016 Northeast Pacific marine heatwave caused unprecedented ecological disturbance, resulting in widespread kelp and seagrass declines and mass mortality events. The research highlights cascading impacts on species interactions, plankton communities, and offshore ocean productivity.

Algae of polar origin may impact tropical ocean biogeochemistry, food webs

Researchers discovered Polarella, a type of dinoflagellate, in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific Ocean, which contributes significantly to global primary production. The study found increased stress response genes and opportunistic lifestyle in Polarella, suggesting its ecological and biogeochemical role in tropical oceans.

Tiny ocean migrants play a massive role in Southern Ocean carbon storage

A groundbreaking study reveals that small zooplankton like copepods and krill enhance carbon sequestration through seasonal migrations. These tiny creatures store around 65 million tonnes of carbon annually in the deep ocean.

The Barents Sea system – gateway to the changing Arctic

The Barents Sea system – gateway to the changing Arctic book documents six years of interdisciplinary research on the Barents Sea. Researchers used various platforms, including drones, satellites, and underwater robots, to collect data and make predictions about future changes.

Scientists discover 230 new giant viruses that shape ocean life and health

New study reveals insights into giant viruses and their role in marine ecosystems, including photosynthesis manipulation and public health hazards. The discovery of 230 novel giant viruses has significant implications for predicting and managing harmful algal blooms.

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.

Marine heatwaves pose problems for coastal plankton

Researchers found that gradual warming causes significant changes in the plankton community, while heatwaves amplify these effects. The study used historical data and an experiment to simulate future warmer scenarios with and without heatwaves.

Artificial oxygen supply in coastal waters: A hope with risks

Researchers warn that artificial oxygen input cannot replace comprehensive water protection strategies. Technical approaches have shown promise, but risks include intensifying greenhouse gases and disrupting marine habitats. Climate protection and reducing nutrient inputs remain crucial for mitigating ocean oxygen loss.

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.

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.

Evolution of fast-growing fish-eating herring in the Baltic Sea

A new study found that a unique population of large fish-eating herring has evolved in the Baltic Sea, exhibiting faster growth rates and lower levels of pollutants. These herring have adapted to the brackish water by switching from plankton-eating to a fish diet, with potential benefits for human consumption.

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.

Ocean density identified as a key driver of carbon capture by marine plankton

Marine plankton's ability to absorb CO2 is influenced by ocean density, with denser waters leading to reduced calcification and increased alkalinity. This discovery reframes our understanding of the complex interplay between marine life and the global climate system.

Oceans emit sulfur and cool the climate more than previously thought

A recent study reveals that oceans produce a previously unknown sulfur gas called methanethiol, which cools the climate by increasing aerosol formation and reflecting solar radiation. This new compound is found to have a greater cooling capacity than dimethyl sulphide and its impact on climate models.

To design better water filters, MIT engineers look to manta rays

The MIT team fabricated a simple water filter modeled after the mobula ray's plankton-filtering features and studied its performance. They found that the ray's filtering features are broadly similar to industrial cross-flow filters, which could inform design of water treatment systems.

Climate change threatens key ocean plankton groups

Many planktonic foraminifera species may face unprecedented environmental conditions by the end of this century, leading to further extinctions and impacting marine ecosystems. Despite shifts in migration patterns and depth, foraminifera populations have declined by 25% over the past 80 years.

Pioneering research shows sea life will struggle to survive future global warming

A new study reveals that tiny ocean organisms called plankton are struggling to adapt to the current speed of temperature rises, putting marine life at peril. The research highlights the urgent need for collective action to reduce carbon emissions and limit global warming to below 2°C.

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.

Hidden biological processes can affect how the ocean stores carbon

Scientists have discovered microscopic marine organisms producing 'parachute-like' mucus structures that slow their sinking, stalling carbon dioxide absorption from the atmosphere. This finding may have overestimated the ocean's carbon sequestration potential, but also paves the way for improving climate models.

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.

Marine plankton communities changed long before extinctions

Ancient marine plankton communities showed subtle changes before major extinctions, serving as an early warning system for future ocean life loss. These findings offer new insight into how biodiversity responds to global warming and its relevance to worst-case scenarios.

Marine plankton behaviour could predict future marine extinctions, study finds

A study published in Nature found that changes in marine plankton communities can precede mass extinctions. Researchers used a database of fossil records to analyze how plankton responded to climate change over millions of years, revealing that community shifts often occur before losses of biodiversity.

Evolution in action? New study finds possibility of nitrogen-fixing organelles

Researchers found a symbiotic relationship between cyanobacteria UCYN-A and marine algae, B. bigelowii, where UCYN-A fix nitrogen gas into ammonium without regulating dinitrogen use. This suggests they may be on the path to becoming organelle-like structures.

MSU, Carnegie Science introduce a big new idea with the help of tiny plankton

Researchers at MSU and Carnegie Science have developed a model connecting microscopic plankton relationships to predictably affect food webs on an ecosystem level. This new model could deepen understanding of nature's laws and create opportunities in ecosystem management.

Study: 'Legacy' phosphorus delays water quality improvements in Gulf of Mexico

Research by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that phosphorus legacy in riverbeds can delay water quality improvements in the Gulf of Mexico. It may take years or even decades for the reductions to be seen at the Gulf, according to a study published in Science of the Total Environment.

Plankton use UV light sensors to detect pressure change and avoid getting swept away

Marine plankton sense external water pressure through the same cells that detect light, triggering them to swim upwards. The larvae respond to increased pressure by swimming faster and in a straighter trajectory.

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.

Research in Lake Superior reveals how sulfur might have cycled in Earth’s ancient oceans

Scientists discover new sulfur cycle mechanism in Lake Superior's ancient waters, highlighting the crucial role of organic sulfur compounds. The findings provide insight into how sulfur was cycled in Earth's oceans billions of years ago.

Discovery of three novel minorisa species, the smallest predatory marine picoplankton

Researchers isolated five strains of Minorisa from Japanese coastlines and identified three new species: M. fusiformis, M. magna, and M. megafusiformis. These discoveries reveal the previously unknown diversity within the genus Minorisa and provide opportunities to study their ecological role.

Describing various ocean events off the Basque coast by analyzing microscopic organisms

Two studies by UPV/EHU researchers analyze recent and past oceanographic information off the Basque coast based on microfauna present in sediments. The research found that planktonic foraminifera assemblages are good indicators of ocean currents and water masses reaching the Basque continental shelf today.

Important groups of phytoplankton tolerate some strategies to remove CO2 from the ocean

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that diatoms and coccolithophores, two key phytoplankton groups, can tolerate increased ocean alkalinity without significant harm. The treatment can speed up the geologic process of carbon sequestration, reducing acidity in oceans.

Warming climate could turn ocean plankton microbes into carbon emitters

Researchers found that warming conditions can shift mixotrophic microbes from carbon sinks to carbon emitters, potentially accelerating warming and creating a positive feedback loop. These tiny microbes, abundant in freshwater and marine environments, could act as early warning signals for climate change tipping points.

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.

Climate change could cause mass exodus of tropical plankton

Research suggests that rapid ocean warming could force plankton to move away from the tropics, negatively affecting marine food chains. The study used microfossils to track the history of zooplankton and found that tropical plankton populations lived in waters more than 2,000 miles from their current location 8 million years ago.

Late Cenozoic climate cooling biogeographically shifted marine plankton communities

A recent study using planktonic foraminifera fossils found a global clade-wide shift in marine latitudinal zones towards the Equator. The researchers discovered that this shift was not tied to species diversity or functional traits, but rather ecological and morphological characteristics of the organisms.

Marine plankton tell the long story of ocean health, and maybe human too

UC San Diego researchers analyzed plankton samples from the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey to reconstruct historical marine pollution trends. They found rising levels of manmade chemicals in oceans, which may be used to monitor ecosystem health and study connections between ocean pollution and human chronic illnesses.

Ecological tipping point: 5+ El Niño events per century controls coastal biotic communities

A 12,000-year analysis of El Niño's impact on animal communities reveals a tipping point where five or more major events per century lead to dramatic changes in eastern Pacific ecosystems. This finding suggests that strong El Niño events will play an increasingly important role in shaping future ecosystems.

Sleeping giant could end deep ocean life

A new study by researchers at University of California - Riverside found that the position of continents can have a devastating effect on deep ocean creatures. Continental movement can cause a sudden collapse in global water circulation, leading to a stark separation between oxygen levels in the upper and lower depths.

New model sheds light on day/night cycle in the global ocean

Scientists have developed a new model incorporating the day/night cycle into a global ocean biogeochemistry model to investigate its effects on phytoplankton. The study found that diel light cycles significantly impact phytoplankton competition, particularly at lower latitudes.

A scientific mystery solved: Why corals glow even in the depths of the sea

A Tel Aviv University study reveals that corals' fluorescence serves as a lure for plankton, which are then consumed by predators like corals. The researchers found that green-fluorescent corals were 25% more preyed upon than yellow-fluorescent ones.

Data reveal 20-year transformation of Gulf of Maine

A new study reveals the Gulf of Maine is being increasingly influenced by warm water from the North Atlantic, leading to significant changes in its food web. The warming is driven by an influx of North Atlantic water, which has raised temperatures and salinity levels, impacting marine life.

Discovery of ‘ghost’ fossils reveals plankton resilience to past global warming events

An international team of scientists has discovered a new type of fossilization that provides evidence of plankton resilience during past global warming events. The study found abundant ghost fossils of coccolithophores, which were previously thought to be severely affected by climate change and ocean acidification.

Improving predictions of bacteria in Ala Wai Canal, Hawai‘i

Researchers have developed a model to predict Vibrio vulnificus abundance in the canal by analyzing rainfall, water temperature, dissolved nutrients and organic matter. The study found that warmer waters due to climate change may lead to an increase of twice or three times current levels of bacteria by the end of the century.

Ancient greenhouse warming informs potential future climate change scenarios

Scientists confirm a brief rise in CO2 emissions before the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), an abrupt global warming event. The study reveals unique insights into how Earth's current climate could respond to continued carbon emissions.

Study: Microbial life helps warming ocean adapt

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.

Past global photosynthesis reacted quickly to more carbon in the air

Researchers studied ancient Antarctic ice cores to understand past atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. They found a strong correlation between carbon fertilization and increased biological production, which dampens global warming acceleration during glacial periods.

The abyssal world: the last terra incognita of the Earth surface

A massive DNA sequencing project has mapped the deep-sea biodiversity, revealing a vast and unknown ecosystem that plays a crucial role in ocean food-webs and carbon sequestration. The study sheds light on the connection between surface and deep-water ecosystems, with implications for understanding climate change.

New study offers broader understanding on plankton life in Gulf of Mexico

A groundbreaking study has documented the simultaneous position, size, and density of 36 different types of planktonic organisms in the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers found that smallest organisms formed the largest patches, with greater patchiness in shallow waters closer to shore than deeper ocean waters.

Mapping eukaryotic plankton globally in all their diversity

Eukaryotic plankton are highly diverse taxonomically, phylogenetically, and ecologically. The study found that ocean currents significantly influence their biogeography, with smaller organisms being more sensitive to local environmental conditions.

Humans guilty of breaking an oceanic law of nature

A new study reveals human activities have drastically altered the ocean's biodiversity, with significant losses in larger species like whales and dolphins. Biomass estimates show a 60% reduction in large fish and marine mammals, outpacing even extreme climate change scenarios.

Movement of plankton between tropical marine ecosystems drives “sweet spots” for fishing

A new analysis reveals that plankton-eating fish play a central role in driving local spikes of extreme biological productivity in tropical coral reefs. These 'sweet spots' concentrate abundant fish production, making them optimal for fishing. The study's findings hold significance for the future of tropical reef fisheries as coral ree...