Francesco Mattei, Anna E. Hickman, Julia Uitz, Vincenzo Vellucci, Laurence Garczarek, Frédéric Partensky, Stephanie Dutkiewicz (2026), Phytoplankton With Flexible Pigment Content Disadvantaged by Projected Future Decrease in Variability of the Ocean Light Spectrum, Global Change Biology, doi: 10.1111/gcb.70671
Description: Phytoplankton play a vital role in ocean ecosystems and climate regulation. This study evaluates how climate‑driven shifts in underwater light spectra affect phytoplankton with different pigment strategies, focusing on Synechococcus types. Using a global ecosystem model, the authors project that by the end of the 21st century, most of the ocean will experience an increased blue‑to‑green light ratio, with reduced seasonal variability. This declining variability diminishes the competitive advantage of chromatic acclimators—organisms able to adjust pigment composition—making them the most negatively impacted group. The findings highlight these pigment types as potential bioindicators of ecosystem change.