Mmastodon EnvironmentOceans first seen 3 d ago, last 3 d ago, peak #5

Marine phytoplankton chemistry more varied than assumed

Original: Marine phytoplankton form the foundation of ocean ecosystems, but their internal chemical composition is far from unifor

New findings challenge a long-standing assumption in oceanography that organic matter in marine phytoplankton follows a fixed elemental ratio. Researchers say the internal chemical composition of these microscopic organisms, which anchor ocean food webs and drive carbon cycling, is far from uniform. The insight could change how scientists estimate ocean respiration and model the marine carbon cycle.

Why now: New research revises a foundational assumption about ocean ecosystems, with implications for climate and carbon models.

marine phytoplanktonocean ecosystemsoceanographers

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Evidence

• Marine phytoplankton form the foundation of ocean ecosystems, but their internal chemical composition is far from uniform. Traditionally, oceanographers assumed that organic matter maintains a fixed elemental ratio, which can bias estimates of ocean respiration and… · aishaahmed1994

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