Phytoplankton monitoring has become increasingly crucial as scientists recognize the vital role these microscopic organisms play in marine ecosystems and global climate regulation. These tiny plants and bacteria are responsible for generating about half of the Earth’s oxygen and form the foundation of ocean food webs[4].
Importance of Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are essential for several reasons:
1. Oxygen production: They generate approximately half of the atmosphere’s oxygen through photosynthesis[4].
2. Carbon cycle: Phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and, when they die and sink, transport this carbon to the deep sea, making them significant players in the global carbon cycle[4].
3. Marine food web: They form the base of virtually every ocean food web, supporting the existence of most other marine life[4].
4. Nutrient cycling: Phytoplankton take up, transform, and recycle elements needed by other organisms, playing a crucial role in ocean biogeochemical cycles[4].
Monitoring Strategies
Scientists employ various methods to monitor phytoplankton populations:
1. Regular sampling: Researchers conduct weekly sampling at coastal sites and monthly sampling at offshore locations to track changes in phytoplankton populations[1].
2. Advanced technology: Specialized instruments like the FlowCam are used to visualize and measure different phytoplankton species, providing frequent updates on species composition[1].
3. Citizen science: Programs like the National Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) engage volunteers in collecting samples and identifying phytoplankton species using digital microscopy[2].
4. Standardized methods: The Utermöhl method, using an inverted light microscope, has become the standard for phytoplankton identification and quantification worldwide[3].
Climate Change Impacts
Monitoring efforts have revealed several climate change-related impacts on phytoplankton:
1. Shifting populations: Changes in phytoplankton abundance, species composition, and seasonal patterns have been observed, particularly in rapidly warming areas like the Gulf of Maine[1].
2. Unusual blooms: In 2023, an unprecedented bloom of brown microalgae, Tripos muelleri, was documented in the Gulf of Maine, potentially signaling long-term shifts in species composition[1].
3. Cascading effects: Changes in phytoplankton dynamics directly influence the marine food web, affecting species such as zooplankton, fish, and marine mammals[1].
Challenges and Future Directions
As climate change continues to impact marine ecosystems, phytoplankton monitoring faces several challenges:
1. Geographic coverage: There is a need to expand monitoring efforts to cover more areas, particularly in underrepresented regions[5].
2. Integration of methods: Combining traditional and novel techniques can improve zooplankton observation and help model future scenarios under global changes[5].
3. Long-term data collection: Consistent, long-term monitoring is essential to detect trends and changes in phytoplankton populations over time[3].
By addressing these challenges and continuing to invest in phytoplankton monitoring, scientists can better understand and potentially mitigate the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles.
Read More
[1] https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2024/12/phytoplankton-monitoring-gulf-maine-signal-climate-change-impacts
[2] https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/phytoplankton-monitoring-network-20-years-of-citizen-science-and-still-growing/
[3] https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/bitstream/handle/11329/2027.2/Guidelines-for-monitoring-of-phytoplankton-species-composition-abundance-and-biomass-1.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y
[4] https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/ocean-life/ocean-plants/phytoplankton/
[5] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-36241-5
[6] https://marinelabresearch.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/why-monitor-phytoplankton/
[7] https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2023/08/23/plankton-are-central-to-life-on-earth-how-is-climate-change-affecting-them/
[8] https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring–assessment/freshwater–marine/Lake-Monitoring-Phytoplankton-fact-sheet.pdf
[9] https://gacoast.uga.edu/phytoplankton-monitors-help-keep-communities-safe-from-harmful-algal-blooms/
[10] https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/monitoring-and-assessments/pmn/
[11] https://ioos.noaa.gov/ioos-in-action/phytoplankton/
[12] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25251272/
[13] https://www.fluidimaging.com/applications/aquatic/plankton-research
[14] https://chelsea.co.uk/phytoplankton-5-reasons-why-they-are-so-important/
[15] https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/what-n-why.html
[16] https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring–assessment/freshwater–marine/EPA_Marine-Phytoplankton_factsheet_June2020.pdf
[17] https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/Shellfish/Phytoplankton-Monitoring-Program.aspx
[18] https://www.marine.ie/site-area/areas-activity/marine-environment/phytoplankton-monitoring
[19] https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/national-phytoplankton-monitoring-network/
[20] https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/science-data/advanced-technologies-and-unmanned-systems-tracking-phytoplankton-dynamics
[21] https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/2016/kcr2077-2016/kcr2077-2016-rpt.pdf
[22] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9688872/
[23] https://snapshot.narrabay.com/app/WaterQualityInitiatives/PhytoplanktonMonitoring
[24] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.823109/full
[25] https://tos.org/oceanography/article/exploring-new-technologies-for-plankton-observations-and-monitoring-of-ocean-health
[26] https://globalocean.noaa.gov/innovative-tech-to-observe-arctic-phytoplankton/
[27] https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/phenomenal-phytoplankton-scientists-uncover-cellular-process-behind-oxygen-production
[28] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.502336/full
[29] https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/87465/oxygen-factories-in-the-southern-ocean
[30] https://www.nature.com/articles/483S17a
[31] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-oxygen.html
[32] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8795964/