Long-Term Plankton Decline in the Northeast Atlantic Revealed
A global team of scientists from the United Kingdom and France has tracked multi‑decade changes in plankton communities in the northeastern Atlantic. Their study shows a steady decline in plankton abundance over sixty consecutive years, highlighting rising concerns for marine ecosystems. The findings are reported in a paper published in the journal Science of The Total Environment.
Using 24 data sets that include both phytoplankton and zooplankton, the researchers mapped the abundance of eight planktonic life forms across six decades. The analysis reveals notable shifts in the community structure of plankton in this ocean region, offering a long-term view of how marine life responds to changing conditions.
Since the 1960s, certain groups of plankton have shown clear downward trends. Dinoflagellates, a key class of phytoplankton, exhibit a decline of about 5 percent per decade. Simultaneously, holoplankton, a broad group of zooplankton that reside throughout the water column, show a roughly 7 percent decrease over the same period. These patterns point to a broad, ongoing restructuring of plankton communities in this part of the Atlantic.
Experts attribute much of this decline to warming ocean waters. Plankton form the base of marine food webs, and shifts in their abundance can ripple through ecosystems, affecting fish, seabirds, and other marine life. Phytoplankton alone contribute a substantial share of the planet’s oxygen production, underscoring why changes in these communities matter for global air quality and climate balance.
The researchers call for policymakers to recognize the importance of plankton trends and to address the human factors driving ocean warming. Reducing anthropogenic emissions is singled out as a crucial step in slowing the pace of change and helping to maintain healthy ocean ecosystems for the future. The study emphasizes that safeguarding plankton populations supports the broader health of marine environments and the services they provide, from biodiversity to oxygen production (attribution: Science of The Total Environment).
In light of these findings, scientists recommend ongoing monitoring and coordinated international action to mitigate warming and protect oceanic life. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that long-term shifts in microscopic communities can foreshadow larger changes in marine biodiversity and ecosystem productivity. Continued research and proactive policy responses are essential to sustaining the ocean’s ecological balance for generations to come.
[Citation: Science of The Total Environment]