Plankton Adapt Cell Membrane Chemistry to Temperature, Nutrients, and Light in Global Oceans

Plankton adapt cell membrane chemistry to temperature, nutrients, and light in global oceans

Plankton may be tiny, but they play an important role in the ocean. As the foundation of marine ecosystems, they support ocean food webs and help regulate Earth's climate by storing carbon. While lab studies have shown plankton can adjust their chemistry in response to environmental changes, a new global study reveals how these adaptations occur in the real ocean. The study will be published on May 23, 2025, in the journal Science Advances.

Marine heat waves pose problems for coastal plankton

Temperatures around the world continue to rise-and the North Sea is no exception. Yet, in addition to this gradual warming, increasingly frequent and intense heat events also have consequences for marine organisms.