Marine microbes—microscopic, yet massively influential—form the invisible foundation of ocean ecosystems. In “Tiny Giants: Marine Microbes’ Pivotal Role in the Ocean’s Future”, microbial oceanographer Dr. Sonya Dyhrman of Lamont‑Doherty Earth Observatory unravels how these organisms govern critical processes like carbon cycling, food-web dynamics, and ocean health under climate stress. See also “Giving a voice to the invisible majority of the Ocean: the marine microbiome.”
As global warming alters ocean chemistry and currents, we lack precise models to predict how microbial communities will respond—and how that will affect the ocean’s ability to sequester carbon. Dr. Dyhrman shares how her lab explores the “chemical language” of microbes, helping to decode ecosystem rules for better forecasting.