Monitoring and modelling marine zooplankton in a changing climate

Area of Science:

• Marine Ecology
• Oceanography
• Biogeochemical Cycles

Background:

• Zooplankton are key consumers of phytoplankton, linking lower and higher trophic levels in marine ecosystems.
• They play a significant role in global biogeochemical cycles and energy transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review zooplankton responses to ocean warming, including phenology, range, and body size shifts.
• To assess the implications of these changes for the biological carbon pump and food web dynamics.
• To identify knowledge and geographic gaps in zooplankton monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis and review of existing studies on zooplankton responses to ocean warming.
• Analysis of implications for marine food webs and the biological carbon pump.
• Discussion of integrated sampling approaches combining traditional and novel techniques.

Main Results:

• Ocean warming causes significant shifts in zooplankton phenology, geographic distribution, and body size.
• These changes impact the efficiency of the biological carbon pump and alter predator-prey interactions.
• Current monitoring efforts reveal substantial knowledge and geographic gaps.

Conclusions:

• Zooplankton are highly sensitive to ocean warming, with cascading effects on marine ecosystems.
• Urgent improvements in zooplankton monitoring are needed to address identified knowledge and geographic gaps.
• Integrated sampling strategies are recommended for enhanced zooplankton observation and future scenario modeling.