my manuscript on phytoplankton microcosm experiments is now available as a preprint!

You can now check the preprint of my manuscript on bioRxiv. “Phytoplankton size structure and biogeochemical responses to nutrient enrichment in an oligotrophic coral reef”.

Phytoplankton are essential for coral reef ecosystems, connecting nutrient inputs to marine food webs. Researchers studied the effects of nutrient enrichment on the phytoplankton community at Shiraho Reef in Okinawa, Japan, using microcosm experiments. In this research we found that increasing nitrogen and phosphorus together significantly boosted chlorophyll a levels and shifted the community from smaller to larger phytoplankton types. This research highlights how nutrient inputs, particularly from local runoff, can rapidly influence phytoplankton dynamics and carbon cycling in coral reefs, with implications for managing these ecosystems under climate change and anthropogenic pressures.