A recent research shows that marine heatwaves are altering the foundation of the marine food web, causing disruption in ecosystems and potentially affecting global food resources.

The team of researchers from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, state that their study has worldwide significance.

Over the course of 12 years, the survey observed the well-being of microscopic organisms that form the foundation of the ocean’s food chain. This research is part of an ongoing, extensive project.

Small types of phytoplankton have evolved to have smaller cells, making them harder for bigger animals to eat. Scientists think that this could have a significant impact on the entire food chain.

There may also be effects on the capacity of ocean ecosystems to take in – or store – carbon and the abundance of fish populations.

According to Mark Brown, the main researcher of the study, it has significant implications.

According to Brown, this is a problem that affects the entire world. Heatwaves are occurring in all regions, including typically warm areas like the Red Sea, where temperatures are surpassing the expected average. It is crucial to also examine marine heatwaves in the Arctic and Antarctic, as changes in these polar ecosystems could greatly impact global food supply.

Marine heatwaves involve extended periods of abnormally warm ocean water.

Researchers caution that they can cause significant harm to marine organisms, such as fish, coral reefs, and kelp forests.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization conducted a study on a marine heatwave that occurred in the Tasman Sea near the island state of Tasmania from 2015 to 2016.

The CSIRO team discovered that the extreme conditions caused the microbial community to take on similarities to those typically found in much warmer waters approximately 1,000 kilometers northward.

According to the CSIRO team, the effects of climate change are increasing the severity of marine heatwaves. These heatwaves can also be affected by natural weather patterns such as the El Niño phenomenon.

According to Brown, although the organisms they examine are small in size, their significance is immense.

According to the speaker, these organisms are extremely tiny and cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. This means that they are invisible to the naked eye. Similar to how gut microbes help maintain a healthy body and convert nutrients into energy, these processes also occur in the ocean. However, studying them is challenging. Therefore, genomic techniques such as DNA sequencing are necessary to accurately analyze their presence and function.

The results from CSIRO have been released in the publication Nature’s Communications Biology.