Beneath the waves lies a world of microscopic marvels – marine microbes that silently shape life on Earth.
These tiny organisms – bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, and protists – form the foundation of ocean food webs and drive key processes such as:
# Carbon Cycling – Microbes absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere and help sequester it deep in the ocean.
# Oxygen Production – Nearly half of the world’s oxygen is produced by photosynthetic marine microbes.
# Nutrient Recycling – They break down waste and organic matter, releasing nutrients essential to marine life.
# Symbiosis – Microbes live in harmony with corals, sponges, and even fish, aiding their growth and defense.As climate change and pollution threaten marine ecosystems, understanding these microbial communities is more important than ever.
At marinemicrobiome.org, we’re committed to bringing the stories of these invisible ecosystem engineers to light.
Why Marine Microbes Matter: Ecosystem Engineers of the Ocean
