Ducklow, H., M. Cimino, K. O. Denton, W. R. Fraser, R. R. Hopcroft, R. Ji, A. J. Miller, M. D. Ohman and H. M. Sosik, 2022:
Marine pelagic ecosystem responses
to climate variability and change.
BioScience, 72, 827-850.
Abstract.
The marine coastal region makes up just 10% of the total area of the global ocean but
contributes nearly 20% of its total primary production and over 80% of fisheries landings.
Unicellular phytoplankton dominate primary production. Climate variability has had
impacts on various marine ecosystems, but most sites are just approaching the age at
which ecological responses to longer term, unidirectional climate trends might be
distinguished. All five marine pelagic sites in the US Long Term Ecological Research (LTER)
network are experiencing warming trends in surface air temperature. The marine physical
system is responding at all sites with increasing mixed layer temperatures and decreasing
depth and with declining sea ice cover at the two polar sites. Ecological responses are more
varied. Some sites show multiple population and/or ecosystem changes while at others
changes have not been detected, either because more time is needed, or they are not being
measured.`
Reprint (pdf)