What are Prokaryotes?
Prokaryotes are microscopic organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Their genetic material, typically a circular DNA molecule, is present in the cytoplasm without being enclosed within a nuclear membrane
They include bacteria and archaea.
They make up about 30% of marine life and are found in nearly all environments on Earth.
Although tiny, prokaryotes are incredibly abundant, with around two tonnes of marine prokaryotes for every person on the planet.
Impact of Climate Change on Marine Prokaryotes
Prokaryotes are highly resilient to climate change and may increasingly dominate marine environments.
For every degree of ocean warming, prokaryote biomass is expected to decline by about 1.5%, which is less compared to the 3–5% decline in larger marine life like plankton and fish.
Warming could lead prokaryotes to produce an additional 800 million tonnes of carbon annually
Consequences
As prokaryotes become more dominant, they could divert nutrients away from fish, reducing the availability of fish for human consumption, impacting global food supply
Increased carbon production by prokaryotes could impair the ocean’s ability to absorb human carbon emissions, complicating efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.
More research is needed to understand how prokaryotes will adapt to climate change and to refine models predicting their impacts on marine ecosystems.
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