New study reveals decline of marine phytoplankton over the past century

A new article published in the 29 July issue of the international journal Nature reveals for the first time that microscopic marine algae known as 'phytoplankton' have been declining globally over the 20th century. Phytoplankton forms the basis of the marine food chain and sustains diverse assemblages of species ranging from tiny zooplankton to large marine mammals, seabirds, and fish. Says lead author Daniel Boyce, 'Phytoplankton is the fuel on which marine ecosystems run. A decline of phytoplankton affects everything up the food chain, including humans'...

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