KAUST researchers have found that rising sea temperatures in the northern Red Sea are causing phytoplankton blooms to start later, last for shorter periods, and end earlier. These changes in phytoplankton growth are a sign of broader shifts in marine ecosystems due to climate change.

Phytoplankton form the base of the ocean food chain and are vital to marine life, including zooplankton, fish, and large mammals like whales. They also play a crucial role in carbon dioxide sequestration and oxygen production. However, as sea temperatures rise, less mixing occurs between deeper nutrient-rich waters and surface layers, reducing the nutrients available for phytoplankton, which results in shorter blooms.

By analyzing 18 years of ocean color data from European Space Agency satellites, the researchers linked changes in bloom timing with surface temperature rise, suggesting that similar shifts could affect tropical marine ecosystems globally. The timing of phytoplankton blooms is crucial for the survival of marine larvae, with potential impacts on commercial fish species and local fisheries.

This research could help identify areas vulnerable to climate change impacts, guiding future studies on how ecosystem changes could affect marine life and human populations dependent on coastal resources.

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