Climate Impact on Plankton Ecosystems in the Northeast Atlantic

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Climate Impact on Plankton Ecosystems in the Northeast Atlantic

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The Northeast Atlantic is experiencing significant ecological shifts due to climate change, with plankton ecosystems being particularly vulnerable. Rising sea temperatures and altered currents disrupt phytoplankton blooms, which form the base of marine food webs. These microscopic organisms are sensitive to even minor temperature fluctuations, leading to mismatches in timing with zooplankton grazers. Ocean acidification further compounds these issues by affecting calcifying plankton species. The combination of these factors may reduce overall productivity, potentially cascading through fish stocks and regional fisheries. Long-term monitoring reveals northward distribution shifts for many plankton species as they track cooler waters, fundamentally restructuring this marine ecosystem. These changes also impact carbon sequestration processes, as plankton play a key role in the biological carbon pump.