Frémont, P., Gehlen, M., Vrac, M., Leconte, J., Delmont, T. O., Wincker, P., Iudicone, D., & Jaillon, O. (2022). Restructuring of plankton genomic biogeography in the surface ocean under climate change. Nature Climate Change, 12(4), 393–401. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01314-8
Summary
The impact of climate change on diversity, functioning and biogeography of marine plankton remains a major unresolved issue. In this study, environmental niches are evidenced for plankton communities at the genomic scale for six size fractions from viruses to meso-zooplankton. The spatial extrapolation of these niches portrays ocean partitionings south of 60° N into climato-genomic provinces characterized by signature genomes. By 2090, under the high emission scenario (RCP8.5), provinces are reorganized over half of the ocean area considered, and almost all provinces are displaced poleward. Particularly, tropical provinces expand at the expense of temperate ones. Sea surface temperature is identified as the main driver of changes (50%), followed by phosphate (11%) and salinity (10%). Compositional shifts among key planktonic groups suggest impacts on the nitrogen and carbon cycles. Provinces are linked to estimates of carbon export fluxes which are projected to decrease, on average, by 4% in response to biogeographical restructuring.
Policy relevant message
By 2090, under the high emission scenario (RCP8.5), provinces are reorganized over half of the ocean area considered, and almost all provinces are displaced poleward. Particularly, tropical provinces expand at the expense of temperate ones. Sea surface temperature is identified as the main driver of changes (50%), followed by phosphate (11%) and salinity (10%). Compositional shifts among key planktonic groups suggest impacts on the nitrogen and carbon cycles. Provinces are linked to estimates of carbon export fluxes which are projected to decrease, on average, by 4% in response to biogeographical restructuring.