Global warming and ocean acidification are considered main threats to our marine environment. Warming is shown to reduce the quality of food used by grazers (herbivores) in the ecosystem, by decreasing essential fatty acids needed for plankton growth, survival and reproduction. In the current project, we investigate the pelagic plankton community and measure how their lipids change due to rising temperature and carbonate addition. We are sampling zooplankton along a gradient in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, we will investigate energy content, gene expression and cell damage of key species during long-term exposure in an underwater CO2 venting source in Greece. We will also perform experiments with natural plankton exposed to higher temperature and carbonate addition. Carbonate in the aquatic environment improves the carbon sink and reduces eutrophication. This project will significantly increase our understanding of the effects of climate change on marine fauna in the field.

2024

2028