Marine food web resilience: a study into the metabolic adjustments of phytoplankton to a greenhouse ocean

Start year: 2025

Summary: Climate change is impacting our ocean ecosystems, with warming and acidification posing a threat to the biological, economic and social systems that depend upon them. Phytoplankton are intimately involved in ocean nutrient cycling and form the foundation of the marine food web, as such, they are fundamental to ocean health and Australia’s $4.2B fishery1. Yet comprehensive knowledge on how they will respond to predicted changes to our climate remains uncertain. Using S-FTIR, this project aims to resolve how warm, acidified oceans influence phytoplankton nutritional value (biomolecular composition), advancing understanding of their role in future marine food webs and nutrient cycling.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.