diatoms
diatoms at World Data Ocean is a file of 5 stories. The newest of them: “Monsoon Patterns, Viruses, and HABs Linked in Philippine Mariculture Area”, “Mediterranean Phytoplankton Diversity Shifts Observed Over 25 Years”, and “Long-Term Shifts in Plankton Communities Signal Warming’s Impact on Oslofjord”. In Bolinao, Philippines, a 2.5-month saxitoxin episode and a fish kill marked the 2022 season, yet the dominant phytoplankton were diatoms, not the toxin-producing dinoflagellate *Alexandrium* sp. In the Mediterranean, the balance of phytoplankton is shifting, and the implications reach far beyond the water's surface. A Global Hub for Ocean Intelligence 4 World Data Ocean is a centralized digital platform where researchers, scientists, and ocean enthusiasts converge to… The list below is every diatoms story on World Data Ocean, newest first.
Monsoon Patterns, Viruses, and HABs Linked in Philippine Mariculture Area
In Bolinao, Philippines, a 2.5-month saxitoxin episode and a fish kill marked the 2022 season, yet the dominant phytoplankton were diatoms, not the toxin-producing dinoflagellate *Alexandrium* sp. that triggered the shellfish ban. Our sampling, using a PlanktoScope and 18S rRNA sequencing, revealed giant viruses from the Imitervirales and Algavirales orders coexisting with these blooms. While these viruses likely didn't directly cause the toxin event, network analyses suggest they influence plankton dynamics during HABs.
Mediterranean Phytoplankton Diversity Shifts Observed Over 25 Years
In the Mediterranean, the balance of phytoplankton is shifting, and the implications reach far beyond the water's surface. Over 25 years, our analysis of satellite-derived chlorophyll data reveals a basin-wide decline in bulk chlorophyll, paired with a consistent move from larger to smaller organism classes. Diatoms and Green Algae are retreating in relative abundance while Prokaryotes rise, suggesting a potential weakening of the biological carbon pump and the silica cycle. These changes are subtle but measurable, and they underscore why long-term, validated ocean intelligence matters.
Long-Term Shifts in Plankton Communities Signal Warming’s Impact on Oslofjord
The Oslofjord's plankton community is rewriting the expected script of climate change. Comparing 2009-2011 to 2023-2024, we found a 5.6-fold drop in the dinoflagellate-to-diatom ratio, driven largely by a decline in the heterotrophic genus *Gyrodinium*. This challenges the assumption that warming consistently favors heterotrophic taxa in temperate waters. The data is empirical, measured, and clear. For broader context on shifting marine baselines, our coverage of Mediterranean Phytoplankton Diversity Shifts Observed Over 25 Years offers a valuable comparison.
Nitrogen Fixation Linked to Ocean Conditions in Northern Australia
Along Australia's northern coast, Trichodesmium blooms paint the surface in visible slicks, a signal of active nitrogen fixation. During a 1999 cruise from Townsville to Broome, we mapped these diazotrophs alongside picophytoplankton, linking their distribution to distinct water masses identified through cluster analysis. Where Trichodesmium thrived, it drove up to 25% of primary production and dominated surface biomass.
Integrated Models Enhance Ross Sea Marine Protected Area Conservation.
End-to-end models are no longer optional for marine conservation; they are the clearest path we have to understanding how physical forces, food webs, and predator behavior intersect. The paper's focus on the Ross Sea MPA is timely, particularly its call for modular structures that let scientists refine components without stalling the whole system. The emphasis on linking fine-scale predator foraging to broader ecosystem dynamics is especially sharp.