Warming oceans disrupt plankton, the foundation of marine life
Plankton, the microscopic organisms that sustain marine food webs, are being reshaped by climate change, with new satellite data revealing how warming oceans alter their distribution and threaten ecosystems.
Delger Erdenesanaa reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- NASA's PACE satellite provides unprecedented detail on phytoplankton diversity, helping scientists track changes in ocean ecosystems.
- Rising sea temperatures are shifting plankton populations, expanding "ocean deserts" while intensifying coastal phytoplankton blooms, some of which produce toxins harmful to marine life and humans.
- Disruptions to plankton affect the entire food chain, from small fish to whales, with North Atlantic right whales already struggling to find the lipid-rich plankton they rely on.
Key quote:
“One can make the link between relentless CO2 increase and what’s happening to the right whales right now. And what’s happening to Calanus.”
— Jeffrey Runge, zooplankton ecologist and recently retired University of Maine professor
Why this matters:
Plankton are the invisible engine of ocean life, producing much of the planet’s oxygen and serving as food for everything from tiny fish to massive whales. As climate change warms the oceans, plankton populations are shifting, affecting fisheries, marine biodiversity, and even global carbon cycles. The decline of energy-rich zooplankton like Calanus finmarchicus threatens species like the North Atlantic right whale, already on the brink of extinction. Understanding these shifts is crucial for predicting broader ecological consequences.
Learn more: Plankton may be unable to weather rising ocean temperatures
