Marine phytoplankton declining: Striking global changes at the base of the marine food web linked to rising ocean temperatures

ScienceDaily (2010-07-28) -- A new article 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.