A recent study conducted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is making headlines due to its significant findings concerning Coccolithophores. These microscopic marine algae are critical to the health of our oceans, and their decreasing numbers could have lasting impacts on global ecosystems.
Role of Coccolithophores in Marine Ecosystem
Coccolithophores are single-celled algae that inhabit the upper layers of the world’s oceans. They are responsible for calcifying marine phytoplankton—organisms that play a major role in the ocean’s carbon cycle by producing up to 40% of open ocean calcium carbonate. This makes them crucial contributors to 20% of the global net marine primary productivity.
These tiny organisms have a unique way of building their exoskeletons—they create individual plates made up of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), a compound found abundantly in chalk and seashells. Although this process does produce some carbon dioxide (CO2), coccolithophores serve as an effective CO2 sink, consuming more of the greenhouse gas during photosynthesis than they emit during their plate construction process. This means they help in removing harmful CO2 from both the atmosphere and the ocean, which is supremely beneficial for the ocean ecosystem.
Influence of Environmental Factors on Coccolithophores
The southern Indian Ocean is known for its rich abundance and diverse enrichment of coccolithophores. However, these populations are highly dependent on time and susceptible to a variety of environmental factors. These include changing silicate and calcium carbonate concentrations, diatom abundance, light intensity, and availability of macro and micronutrients concentrations, which can be affected by marine pollution.
Diatoms, another type of single-celled algae, often surge after sea ice breakdown due to climate change and ocean acidification. Their increased presence in waters leads to an uptick in the silicate concentration, which, in turn, causes a decrease in CaCO3 concentration, thereby impacting the coccolithophore diversity negatively.
Impact of Climate Change on Coccolithophores
Such environmental changes can also affect the growth and skeletal structure of coccolithophores and could potentially disrupt the balance of the world’s ocean ecosystems. NCPOR’s study identified climate change as a leading factor in the changing calcification rate of coccolithophores. This reduction in calcification is significant as it could prevent these organisms from effectively removing CO2 from the environment, thus impairing their ability to bring about positive changes in the marine ecosystem and the global carbon cycle.
NCPOR Study Findings and Global Implications
The decrease in concentration of oceanic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the southern Indian Ocean, as revealed by the NCPOR study, raises concern about the future health of our oceans. With coccolithophores serving as crucial players in maintaining the equilibrium of CO2, their decline could have far-reaching impacts on global ecosystems.
As the world grapples with the realities of climate change, these findings underscore the interconnectedness of all living organisms and the role they play in maintaining the planet’s health. It highlights the need for further comprehensive studies and proactive steps to protect these tiny but vital algae, which, in turn, will safeguard the health of our oceans and the world’s overall ecological balance.