COSEE Ocean Systems: News
Small Marine Organisms' Big Changes Could Affect World Climate
Description: In the future, warmer waters could significantly change ocean distribution of populations of phytoplankton, tiny organisms that could have a major effect on climate change. Warmer oceans will cause populations of these marine microorganisms to thrive near the poles and shrink in equatorial waters. If the oceans continue to warm as predicted, there will be a sharp decline in the diversity of phytoplankton in tropical waters and a poleward shift in species' thermal niches--if they don't adapt. [Source: National Science Foundation]
URL: http://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=125842&org=NSF&from=news
Availability: Full Text
Source: National Science Foundation
Publish Date: 10/25/2012
Reading Level: Basic
Page Length:  

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