In a partnership with scientists from the United Kingdom and RUCOOL scientist Oscar Schofield, a new manuscript was published in the journal Biogeosciences. The paper uses Earth system models to study the trajectory of phytoplankton into the future as the planet continues to warm. The results showed that primary productivity might increase by up to 30%, the community composition is slated to change and models will continue to need to be improved to simulate future ecological states.
Fisher, B. J., Poulton, A. J., Meredith, M. P., Baldry, K., Schofield, O., Henley, S. F. 2025. Climate-driven shifts in Southern Ocean primary producers and biogeochemistry in CMIP6 models. Biogeosciences. 22: 975-994 doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-975-2025
Figure shows potential pathways a warming Southern Ocean might drive changes in the marine food webs. Question marks highlight processes that require more study.
