Rising Ocean Temperatures Endanger Vital Phytoplankton Species, Disrupting the Food Web – New Study Reveals

Impact of Climate Change on Prochlorococcus and our Oceans

Scientists have long thought that Prochlorococcus, a tiny and abundant phytoplankton, would thrive in warmer oceans. New research, however, shows a different story. This tiny bacterium plays a huge role in our ocean’s ecosystem and even helps regulate our planet’s climate.

A recent study in Nature Microbiology reveals that Prochlorococcus populations could decline by up to 50% over the next 75 years if ocean temperatures rise above 82°F (27.8°C). In many tropical regions, temperatures are already on the rise, with projections showing that they could regularly exceed 86°F (30°C) in the coming decades.

“Prochlorococcus are keystone species,” says François Ribalet, a research professor at the University of Washington and the study’s lead author. “A decrease in their numbers will lead to significant changes in marine ecology and biodiversity.”

The Role of Prochlorococcus

Prochlorococcus resides in about 75% of the sunlit ocean surface and produces roughly 20% of Earth’s oxygen through photosynthesis. Ribalet emphasizes their importance: “In tropical oceans, nearly half of the food is produced by Prochlorococcus. Many species depend on them.”

While other phytoplankton might move in to fill the gap, Ribalet warns they won’t be perfect substitutes. “Evolution has crafted a specific balance in this ecosystem. The loss of Prochlorococcus could disrupt everything.”

This new data challenges old beliefs that suggested these organisms would thrive as oceans warmed. Previous assumptions were based on limited lab findings, but Ribalet’s team used a decade’s worth of Pacific Ocean samples, counting around 800 billion microbial cells.

Expert Opinions

Paul Berube, a scientist at MIT, praises the study as groundbreaking. He notes that Prochlorococcus forms the base of the marine food web: “They feed everything else. If these organisms start to vanish due to climate change, the consequences for human food systems could be severe.”

The research team even modeled a hypothetical strain of Prochlorococcus able to withstand higher temperatures, but found that it still wouldn’t survive the extremes predicted with rising greenhouse gas emissions. Ribalet clarifies that their projections are conservative, ignoring other challenges like plastic pollution.

Steven Biller, an associate professor at Wellesley College, calls the potential loss of Prochlorococcus “scary.” He highlights that they are part of the “invisible forests” of our oceans. “Most people don’t think about these organisms, but they are vital for our survival.”

The Bigger Picture

The research highlights the ongoing impacts of climate change, emphasizing that ocean warming is already happening. Ribalet and other experts stress the urgent need to curb greenhouse gas emissions to protect our oceans and the life within them.

As Ribalet puts it, “We have solid, data-driven evidence. I would love to be wrong, but these results demand attention.”

Understanding the fate of Prochlorococcus can serve as an early warning signal for ecological changes. These findings underscore the importance of our oceans and the need for proactive measures to preserve marine life.

For more insight into environmental concerns, you can explore further coverage at AP News Environment.

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Oceans, Planets, General news, AP Top News, WA State Wire, Astronomy, Washington, Biodiversity, Franois Ribalet, Health, Paul Berube, Annika Hammerschlag, World news, Climate science, Climate and environment, Science, District of Columbia, World News