Effects of global climate change on marine phytoplankton: interactions between UV radiation and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. ID:DP0556145

Phytoplankton are at the base of the food chain in our planet's oceans and freshwaters. They contribute 45% of the planet's annual net primary production and act as a major sink for carbon dioxide. However, aquatic ecosystems are faced with potentially adverse effects of global climate change such as elevated CO2 levels and increased UVB radiation. Although the effects of these two parameters have been investigated separately, this study will be the first to examine the combined effects of these two aspects of climate change on phytoplankton and as such will greatly improve our ability to predict and model the effects of climate change over the next century.