Articles | Volume 21, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5591-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5591-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Dec 2024
Research article |
| 13 Dec 2024
| 13 Dec 2024
Phytoplankton adaptation to steady or changing environments affects marine ecosystem functioning
Isabell Hochfeld
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, Universität Hamburg, Palmaille 9, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
Jana Hinners
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Related authors
Isabell Hochfeld, Ben A. Ward, Anke Kremp, Juliane Romahn, Alexandra Schmidt, Miklós Bálint, Lutz Becks, Jérôme Kaiser, Helge W. Arz, Sarah Bolius, Laura S. Epp, Markus Pfenninger, Christopher A. Klausmeier, Elena Litchman, and Jana Hinners
Biogeosciences, 22, 2363–2380, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2363-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2363-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Marine ecosystem models (MEMs) are valuable for assessing the threats of global warming to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, but their predictions vary widely. We argue that MEMs should consider evolutionary processes and undergo independent validation. Here, we present a novel framework for MEM development using validation data from sediment archives, which map long-term environmental and evolutionary change. Our approach is a crucial step towards improving the predictive power of MEMs.
Isabell Hochfeld, Ben A. Ward, Anke Kremp, Juliane Romahn, Alexandra Schmidt, Miklós Bálint, Lutz Becks, Jérôme Kaiser, Helge W. Arz, Sarah Bolius, Laura S. Epp, Markus Pfenninger, Christopher A. Klausmeier, Elena Litchman, and Jana Hinners
Biogeosciences, 22, 2363–2380, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2363-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2363-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Marine ecosystem models (MEMs) are valuable for assessing the threats of global warming to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, but their predictions vary widely. We argue that MEMs should consider evolutionary processes and undergo independent validation. Here, we present a novel framework for MEM development using validation data from sediment archives, which map long-term environmental and evolutionary change. Our approach is a crucial step towards improving the predictive power of MEMs.
Shubham Krishna, Victoria Peterson, Luisa Listmann, and Jana Hinners
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2022-249, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2022-249, 2023
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Marine viruses have been identified as key players in biogeochemical cycles and in the termination of phytoplankton bloom. In this study, we apply a coupled model system to investigate the role viruses in Baltic Sea ecosystem and how it will change with the climate change. According to our results, presence of viruses increased nutrient retention in the upper water column and reduced the transfer of organic matter to higher trophic levels. Future warming is expected to elevate these effects.
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Short summary
Ecosystem models disagree on future changes in marine ecosystem functioning. We suspect that the lack of phytoplankton adaptation represents a major uncertainty factor, given the key role that phytoplankton play in marine ecosystems. Using an evolutionary ecosystem model, we found that phytoplankton adaptation can notably change simulated ecosystem dynamics. Future models should include phytoplankton adaptation; otherwise they can systematically overestimate future ecosystem-level changes.
Ecosystem models disagree on future changes in marine ecosystem functioning. We suspect that the...
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