Article
|
Open Access
Featured
-
-
Matters Arising
| Open AccessRectifying misinformation on the climate intervention potential of ocean afforestation
- Victor Smetacek
- , Mar Fernández-Méndez
- & Jiajun Wu
-
Article
| Open Access
A genome-centric view of the role of the Acropora kenti microbiome in coral health and resilience
This study provides insights into the functional roles of microbial symbionts within the reef-building coral Acropora kenti. The findings reveal molecular mechanisms underpinning coral health and adaptation to local environmental stressors, which may support host resilience in the face of anthropogenic climate change and pollution.
- Lauren F. Messer
- , David G. Bourne
- & Gene W. Tyson
-
Article
| Open Access
Genome-scale community modelling reveals conserved metabolic cross-feedings in epipelagic bacterioplankton communities
Identifying the metabolic interactions that underlie microbial communities is challenging. Here, the authors combine Tara Oceans -omics data with co-activity networks and genome-scale metabolic models to predict biotic interactions among planktonic prokaryotes in the upper ocean.
- Nils Giordano
- , Marinna Gaudin
- & Samuel Chaffron
-
Article
| Open Access
Disentangling top-down drivers of mortality underlying diel population dynamics of Prochlorococcus in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre
This study shows that a multitrophic community model jointly recapitulates diel rhythms in abundances of Prochlorococcus picocyanobacteria, as well as viral infection, viral abundances and grazer abundances. Model-data integration implies that grazing predominantly controls Prochlorococcus abundances in surface waters of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, despite high viral densities.
- Stephen J. Beckett
- , David Demory
- & Joshua S. Weitz
-
Article
| Open Access
Patterns in the temporal complexity of global chlorophyll concentration
For satellite data, noisy observations can often be ignored in favour of smooth trends and signals. Here, the authors developed a method to quantify the complexity of chlorophyll-α time series on a global scale, which led to the discovery of greater differences among regions than previously recognized.
- Vitul Agarwal
- , Jonathan Chávez-Casillas
- & Colleen B. Mouw
-
Article
| Open Access
Ecological forecasts for marine resource management during climate extremes
Forecasting ecology can support proactive decision-making in the face of uncertain environmental conditions. Using case studies on whale entanglement and sea turtle bycatch, this study showcases the capacity for existing management tools to transition to a forecast configuration and provide skilful forecasts up to 12 months in advance.
- Stephanie Brodie
- , Mercedes Pozo Buil
- & Michael G. Jacox
-
Article
| Open Access
Anchovy boom and bust linked to trophic shifts in larval diet
A characteristic of costal-pelagic fishes is their large population size fluctuations, yet the drivers remain elusive. Here, the authors analyze a 45-year timeseries of nitrogen stable isotopes measured in larvae of Northern Anchovy and find that high energy transfer efficiency from the base of the food web up to young larvae confers high survival and recruitment to the adult population.
- Rasmus Swalethorp
- , Michael R. Landry
- & Andrew R. Thompson
-
Article
| Open Access
Planktonic microbial signatures of sinking particle export in the open ocean’s interior
Sinking of organic particles to the deep seafloor is fundamental to ocean carbon cycling. Here, the authors investigate prokaryotic communities in sinking and suspended particles, identifying depth-specific signatures of particle export and carbon cycling processes.
- Fuyan Li
- , Andrew Burger
- & Edward F. DeLong
-
Article
| Open Access
Mesophotic coral bleaching associated with changes in thermocline depth
Rising global temperatures cause widespread bleaching of shallow coral reefs but mesophotic reefs at depths over 30 metres are thought to be sheltered by cooler waters. Here, at sites in the Chagos Archipelago, the authors show bleaching of corals at depths of 90 metres, which might be due to warm surface waters being pushed deeper by the ocean’s response to the Indian Ocean Dipole.
- Clara Diaz
- , Nicola L. Foster
- & Phil Hosegood
-
Article
| Open Access
Global analysis of ocean phytoplankton nutrient limitation reveals high prevalence of co-limitation
Nutrient limitation is a key constraint on ocean productivity. Here, by analysing a compilation of field experiments spanning the global ocean, this study shows that increasing the number of different nutrients supplied significantly increases net phytoplankton growth, suggesting multiple nutrients are often approaching co-limiting levels.
- Thomas J. Browning
- & C. Mark Moore
-
Article
| Open Access
Ancient dolphin genomes reveal rapid repeated adaptation to coastal waters
The chronology and mode of parallel evolution remain unclear. Here, the authors compare mid-Holocene and contemporary bottlenose dolphin adaptations between pelagic and coastal ecosystems with paleogenomics, finding rapid adaptation to newly emerged habitat from standing genetic variation.
- Marie Louis
- , Petra Korlević
- & Andrew D. Foote
-
Comment
| Open Access
Phosphate limitation and ocean acidification co-shape phytoplankton physiology and community structure
This Comment discusses the complexity of how ocean acidification and phosphate limitation affect phytoplankton physiologies, as well as what future research is needed to address remaining crucial questions.
- Senjie Lin
-
Article
| Open Access
Hidden heatwaves and severe coral bleaching linked to mesoscale eddies and thermocline dynamics
Hidden marine heatwaves, associated with ocean eddies that modulate undersea internal waves, threaten coastal ecosystems by driving unexpected sub-surface heating and severe coral bleaching and mortality across depths.
- Alex S. J. Wyatt
- , James J. Leichter
- & Scott C. Burgess
-
Article
| Open Access
Increases in reef size, habitat and metacommunity complexity associated with Cambrian radiation oxygenation pulses
During the Cambrian Radiation, oxygenation occurred in a series of short pulses. Here, the authors quantify episodic changes in reef size, extent of habitat and in metacommunity ecological complexity associated with these oxygenation pulses by examining archaeocyath sponges.
- Andrey Yu. Zhuravlev
- , Emily G. Mitchell
- & Amelia Penny
-
Article
| Open Access
Renewal of planktonic foraminifera diversity after the Cretaceous Paleogene mass extinction by benthic colonizers
Planktonic foraminifera are key to understanding paleoclimate and plankton evolution, but their origins are unclear. Here, the authors use a molecular clock to suggest that benthic foraminifera dispersed in plankton and renew planktonic foraminifera diversity after the Cretaceous Paleogene mass extinction.
- Raphaël Morard
- , Christiane Hassenrück
- & Michal Kucera
-
Article
| Open Access
Contrasting life-history responses to climate variability in eastern and western North Pacific sardine populations
Using high-resolution stable isotope and microstructure analyses of otoliths, this study reveals that sardine populations in the western and eastern North Pacific have different early life metabolic and growth rates that respond contrastingly to temperature variations. These findings could explain observations of different responses in these populations to decadal-scale temperature anomalies.
- Tatsuya Sakamoto
- , Motomitsu Takahashi
- & Tomihiko Higuchi
-
Article
| Open Access
Expression plasticity regulates intraspecific variation in the acclimatization potential of a reef-building coral
Phenotypic plasticity is an important response for organisms experiencing climate change. Here, Drury et al. show that stress-hardening can produce durable improvements in coral thermal tolerance, masking substantial variation between individuals.
- Crawford Drury
- , Jenna Dilworth
- & Justin B. Greer
-
Article
| Open Access
Trophic position of Otodus megalodon and great white sharks through time revealed by zinc isotopes
Here the authors demonstrate the use of zinc isotopes (δ66Zn) to geochemically assess trophic levels in extant and extinct sharks. They show that the Neogene megatooth shark (Otodus megalodon) and the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) occupied a similar trophic level.
- Jeremy McCormack
- , Michael L. Griffiths
- & Thomas Tütken
-
Article
| Open Access
Deep learning of a bacterial and archaeal universal language of life enables transfer learning and illuminates microbial dark matter
Computational methods to analyse microbial systems rely on reference databases which do not capture their full functional diversity. Here the authors develop a deep learning model and apply it using transfer learning, creating biologically useful models for multiple different tasks.
- A. Hoarfrost
- , A. Aptekmann
- & Y. Bromberg
-
Article
| Open Access
Influence of nutrient supply on plankton microbiome biodiversity and distribution in a coastal upwelling region
Coastal upwelling sustains some of the most productive ocean regions. Here, the authors find that spatial patterns and temporal changes in nutrient supply explain marine microbial community structure and diversity in the Southern California Current region.
- Chase C. James
- , Andrew D. Barton
- & Andrew E. Allen
-
Article
| Open Access
Microbes contribute to setting the ocean carbon flux by altering the fate of sinking particulates
Micro-scale microbial community dynamics can substantially alter the fate of sinking particulates in the ocean thus playing a key role in setting the vertical flux of particulate carbon in the ocean.
- Trang T. H. Nguyen
- , Emily J. Zakem
- & Naomi M. Levine
-
Article
| Open Access
Overlooked and widespread pennate diatom-diazotroph symbioses in the sea
Nitrogen depletion in the ocean provides a favourable niche for nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, which can form symbioses with eukaryotic algae. This study reports the discovery of two distinct marine pennate diatom–diazotroph symbioses, which had previously only been observed in freshwater environments and represent an overlooked but widespread source of bioavailable nitrogen in marine habitats.
- Christopher R. Schvarcz
- , Samuel T. Wilson
- & Grieg F. Steward
-
Article
| Open Access
Nutrient supply controls the linkage between species abundance and ecological interactions in marine bacterial communities
Environmental and biotic factors control ecological communities. Here, the authors study community ribosomal rRNA gene copy number in coastal sediment and ocean bacterial communities, and in microcosm nutrient addition experiments, to propose a conceptual framework of how nutrient supply and ecological interactions shape the community.
- Tianjiao Dai
- , Donghui Wen
- & Yunfeng Yang
-
Comment
| Open Access
Emergence of a neopelagic community through the establishment of coastal species on the high seas
Discoveries of persistent coastal species in the open ocean shift our understanding of biogeographic barriers. Floating plastic debris from pollution now supports a novel sea surface community composed of coastal and oceanic species at sea that might portend significant ecological shifts in the marine environment.
- Linsey E. Haram
- , James T. Carlton
- & Gregory M. Ruiz
-
Article
| Open Access
Seasonal mixed layer depth shapes phytoplankton physiology, viral production, and accumulation in the North Atlantic
Phytoplankton are important primary producers. Here the authors investigate phytoplankton physiological changes associated with bloom phases and mixing regimes in the North Atlantic, finding that stratification and deep mixing shape accumulation rates by altering physiology and viral production.
- Ben P. Diaz
- , Ben Knowles
- & Kay D. Bidle
-
Article
| Open Access
Diverse integrated ecosystem approach overcomes pandemic-related fisheries monitoring challenges
The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted ecosystem and biodiversity monitoring programs, including marine fisheries surveys. Here the authors combine multiple modelling approaches and data to overcome lost observational effort off the coasts of California in a diversified integrated ecosystem approach.
- Jarrod A. Santora
- , Tanya L. Rogers
- & John C. Field
-
Article
| Open Access
Marine phytoplankton functional types exhibit diverse responses to thermal change
Phytoplankton communities are important players in biogeochemical processes, but are sensitive to global warming. Here, a meta-analysis shows how the varied responses of phytoplankton to rising temperatures could potentially alter growth dynamics and community structure in a future ocean.
- S. I. Anderson
- , A. D. Barton
- & T. A. Rynearson
-
Article
| Open Access
The biogeographic differentiation of algal microbiomes in the upper ocean from pole to pole
Latitudinal ecosystem boundaries in the global upper ocean may be driven by many factors. Here the authors investigate pole-to-pole eukaryotic phytoplankton metatranscriptomes, gene co-expression networks, and beta diversity, finding that geographic patterns are best explained by temperature gradients.
- Kara Martin
- , Katrin Schmidt
- & Thomas Mock
-
Article
| Open Access
Twenty-year trends in antimicrobial resistance from aquaculture and fisheries in Asia
Trends in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic food animals are seldom documented, particularly in Asia. Here, Schar et al. review 749 point prevalence surveys, describing AMR trends in Asian aquaculture and fisheries over two decades, and identifying resistance hotspots as well as regions that would benefit most from future surveillance efforts.
- Daniel Schar
- , Cheng Zhao
- & Thomas P. Van Boeckel
-
Article
| Open Access
Future phytoplankton diversity in a changing climate
Phytoplankton form the base of the marine ecosystem but current ocean models used for climate change projections are too simple to assess potential changes in plankton community structure. This study analyses a complex ecosystem model with 35 phytoplankton types to evaluate the changes in phytoplankton community composition, turnover and size structure over the 21st century.
- Stephanie A. Henson
- , B. B. Cael
- & Stephanie Dutkiewicz
-
Article
| Open Access
Global distribution patterns of marine nitrogen-fixers by imaging and molecular methods
Nitrogen fixation by diazotrophs is critical for marine primary production. Using Tara Oceans datasets, this study combines a quantitative image analysis pipeline with metagenomic mining to provide an improved global overview of diazotroph abundance, diversity and distribution.
- Juan José Pierella Karlusich
- , Eric Pelletier
- & Rachel A. Foster
-
Article
| Open Access
Manganese co-limitation of phytoplankton growth and major nutrient drawdown in the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean productivity is a crucial component of the carbon cycle, but phytoplankton there are thought to be limited by iron. Here the authors conduct trace metal incubation experiments across the Drake Passage, finding that manganese can play an unexpected role in restricting phytoplankton growth.
- Thomas J. Browning
- , Eric P. Achterberg
- & Edward Mawji
-
Article
| Open Access
Seasonal modulation of phytoplankton biomass in the Southern Ocean
Phytoplankton are biogeochemically important but the drivers of their seasonal cycles in the Southern Ocean are poorly resolved. Here the authors use seven years of ARGO float data to measure bloom initiation, decline and termination throughout the Southern Ocean, finding that bloom dynamics are especially sensitive to the coupling between cell division rates and loss processes.
- Lionel A. Arteaga
- , Emmanuel Boss
- & Jorge L. Sarmiento
-
Article
| Open Access
Marine plankton show threshold extinction response to Neogene climate change
High-latitude records show large diversity losses of marine plankton, such as radiolarians, with historical climate change. Here, Trubovitz et al. present a low-latitude record spanning the last 10 million years, finding that many high-latitude radiolarians did not shift equatorward but instead went extinct.
- Sarah Trubovitz
- , David Lazarus
- & Paula J. Noble
-
Article
| Open Access
Dynamic genome evolution and complex virocell metabolism of globally-distributed giant viruses
Nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV) exhibit a large genomic repertoire and complex evolutionary history. Here, the authors generate 501 metagenome-assembled genomes from diverse environments and show NCLDVs to harbor a wide range of potential metabolic capabilities.
- Mohammad Moniruzzaman
- , Carolina A. Martinez-Gutierrez
- & Frank O. Aylward
-
Article
| Open Access
Ecological changes over 90 years at Low Isles on the Great Barrier Reef
Predictions of coral reef dynamics under climate change are hindered by lack of long-term records. Here the authors couple historical and re-survey data from the Great Barrier Reef to show major phase-shifts in the coral and non-coral community over the last 90 years.
- Maoz Fine
- , Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- & Sophie Dove
-
Article
| Open Access
Split spawning increases robustness of coral larval supply and inter-reef connectivity
Corals occasionally split their spawning over two consecutive months rather than utilising a single annual event. Here, the authors model coral larval dispersal to show that split spawning may increase the reliability of larval supply to reefs, with implications for recovery from disturbances.
- Karlo Hock
- , Christopher Doropoulos
- & Peter J. Mumby
-
Article
| Open Access
Lack of long-term acclimation in Antarctic encrusting species suggests vulnerability to warming
Genetic adaptation and physiological acclimation can potentially buffer species against climate change. Here, the authors perform a long-term warming experiment of Antarctic encrusting communities and show that focal animal species failed to acclimate and lacked genetic variation in tolerance to warming.
- Melody S. Clark
- , Leyre Villota Nieva
- & Lloyd S. Peck
-
Article
| Open Access
Light-dependent grazing can drive formation and deepening of deep chlorophyll maxima
Previous work on the mechanisms responsible for the formation of deep chlorophyll maxima (DCM) has focused on phytoplankton physiology and behaviour. Here the authors used mathematical models informed by laboratory grazing studies to show that microzooplankton has a mechanism that can reduce phytoplankton biomass but allows accumulation at depth.
- Holly V. Moeller
- , Charlotte Laufkötter
- & Matthew D. Johnson
-
Matters Arising
| Open Access
Caution in inferring viral strategies from abundance correlations in marine metagenomes
- Hend Alrasheed
- , Rong Jin
- & Joshua S. Weitz
-
Matters Arising
| Open AccessReply to: Caution in inferring viral strategies from abundance correlations in marine metagenomes
- F. H. Coutinho
- , C. B. Silveira
- & F. L. Thompson
-
Correspondence
| Open Access
Dissimilarity measures affected by richness differences yield biased delimitations of biogeographic realms
- Adrián Castro-Insua
- , Carola Gómez-Rodríguez
- & Andrés Baselga
-
Correspondence
| Open Access
Reply to ‘Dissimilarity measures affected by richness differences yield biased delimitations of biogeographic realms’
- Mark J. Costello
- , Peter Tsai
- & Chhaya Chaudhary
-
Article
| Open Access
Water chemistry reveals a significant decline in coral calcification rates in the southern Red Sea
Ocean acidification and warming threaten coral reefs globally. Here, the authors show that the net contribution of corals to the CaCO3 budget of the tropical Red Sea declined dramatically between 1998 and 2015 and remained low between 2015 and 2018.
- Zvi Steiner
- , Alexandra V. Turchyn
- & Jacob Silverman
-
Article
| Open Access
High pCO2-induced exopolysaccharide-rich ballasted aggregates of planktonic cyanobacteria could explain Paleoproterozoic carbon burial
A Paleoproterozoic carbon isotope anomaly is likely linked to burial of oceanic cyanobacteria, but it is not clear how burial occurred. Here, the authors find that, under Paleoproterozoic pCO2 conditions, planktonic cyanobacteria increase exopolysaccharide production and mineralization, leading to aggregation and faster sinking.
- Nina A. Kamennaya
- , Marcin Zemla
- & Christer Jansson
-
Article
| Open Access
Oxygen minimum zone cryptic sulfur cycling sustained by offshore transport of key sulfur oxidizing bacteria
The presence and activity of sulfide-oxidizing denitrifying bacteria in sulfide-poor offshore oxygen minimum zone waters remains unclear. Here, the authors combine oceanography, molecular, biogeochemical and single-cell techniques to examine their distribution, metabolic capacity, and origins.
- Cameron M. Callbeck
- , Gaute Lavik
- & Marcel M. M. Kuypers
-
Article
| Open Access
Ecological control of nitrite in the upper ocean
Nitrite tends to peak at the base of the sunlit zone in the ocean, but the ecological drivers of the local and global distributions of nitrite are not known. Here, Zakem et al. use a marine ecosystem model to show how the interactions of nitrifying microbes mediate nitrite accumulation.
- Emily J. Zakem
- , Alia Al-Haj
- & Michael J. Follows
-
Article
| Open Access
Floats with bio-optical sensors reveal what processes trigger the North Atlantic bloom
The drivers of North Atlantic phytoplankton bloom have been debated for decades, partially owing to incomplete sub-surface observations. Here, Mignot et al. use robotic sensors to provide detailed observations of developing blooms and to explore the drivers of different phases of plankton growth.
- A. Mignot
- , R. Ferrari
- & H. Claustre
-
Article
| Open Access
Iron limitation of microbial phosphorus acquisition in the tropical North Atlantic
The influence iron exerts over the acquisition of dissolved organic phosphorus in regions of the oceans co-limited by nitrogen and phosphorus is poorly constrained. Here, the authors demonstrate enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity of natural marine microbial communities following iron fertilization.
- T. J. Browning
- , E. P. Achterberg
- & C. M. Moore
Contextual and combinatorial structure in sperm whale vocalisations