New research published by University of Alabama at Birmingham researcher Jeffrey Morris, Ph.D., in Nature Climate Change, proposes the ocean’s food chain might operate differently in the future, based on the effects climate change will have on phytoplankton communities.

Phytoplankton’s role in the marine food chain is particularly significant. Phytoplankton, which are microscopic marine plants, form the foundation of the marine food web and regulate key biogeochemical processes. In a balanced ecosystem, phytoplankton provide food for a wide range of sea creatures, including whales, shrimp, snails and jellyfish.