Editorial: The response of microalgae and plankton to climate change and human activities

Abstract

KEYWORDSclimate change, human activities, microalgae, plankton, harmful algal bloom Editorial on the Research TopicThe response of microalgae and plankton to climate change and human activities This special Research Topic is dedicated to exploring the responses of microalgae and plankton to climate change and human-induced environmental alterations. Encompassing disciplines such as ecology, environmental science, marine biology, and biogeochemistry, this Research Topic reflects the intricate and pressing nature of this interdisciplinary field.Microalgae and plankton are integral to the stability and health of global marine ecosystems. They form the foundation of aquatic food webs, contribute to climate regulation through carbon dioxide absorption, and support biodiversity. Yet, these organisms face unprecedented challenges due to climate change and anthropogenic factors including ocean acidification, rising temperatures, hypoxia, and coastal eutrophication, which profoundly affect their community dynamics and ecological functions (Di Pane et al., 2022). Current knowledge on the mechanisms of microalgae and plankton community response to these changing environmental conditions remains limited. Ocean acidification, a direct consequence of increased CO2 emissions, is altering the carbonate chemistry of marine waters, affecting calcifying organisms and disrupting marine food webs (Doney et al., 2020). Rising ocean temperatures are causing shifts in the distribution of microalgae and plankton species, with poleward movements observed in various regions, indicating changes in oceanic ecosystems (Benedetti et al., 2021). Eutrophication, primarily driven by agricultural runoff and urban wastewater, triggers harmful algal blooms (Glibert, 2020;Kang et al., 2022). These blooms, upon decomposition, disrupt the food chain, leading to the demise of higher trophic level marine animals, and can even pose risks to human health (Liu et al., 2020). Furthermore, hypoxia, resulting from eutrophication and increased stratification of water bodies, leads to the formation of dead zones where marine life struggles to survive, posing a significant threat, especially in coastal and estuarine areas (Wallace and Gobler, 2021). TheseFrontiers in Marine Science frontiersin.org 01