New research reveals that blooms of the widespread gelatinous zooplankton—along with their feces, daily vertical migrations, and carcasses—increase marine carbon export.
plankton
The Bottom of the Arctic Is Blooming
Researchers found phytoplankton hidden on the Arctic seafloor, hinting at a cascade of effects on the local ecology and carbon cycle.
Respiration Quotient Variability and Ocean Oxygen Levels
Respiration quotients in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans reflect different water temperature, nutrient stress and phytoplankton community structure, important for regional carbon and oxygen cycling.
The Simple Usefulness of the Secchi Disk
A centuries-old sailor’s hack enters the ecologist’s toolkit.
A Future Without Ice Cover
Winter is fading away, but the answers may be beneath the ice; a new collection on winter limnology tackles the unknowns.
The Ocean Is Still Sucking Up Carbon—Maybe More Than We Think
Recent studies looking at carbon-sequestering microbes suggest we still have a lot to learn about the ocean’s biological carbon pump.
Phytoplankton as Emitters of Greenhouse Gases
Phytoplankton remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; a new study reveals that marine phytoplankton can also produce greenhouse gases when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
Freshwater Mussel Shells May Retain Record of Alpine Snowpack
A new study explores a possible proxy for seasonal freshwater input that could elucidate changes in alpine snowpack as the planet warms.
El papel del fitoplancton de tamaño medio en la bomba biológica de la Tierra
Una nueva investigación revela que el nanoplancton podría tener una mayor influencia en el ciclo del carbono de lo que se pensaba.
Particles at the Ocean Surface and Seafloor Aren’t So Different
Despite occurring on different scales, flux measurements throughout the water column share log-normal probability distributions.