Microbial biooceanography articles from across Nature Portfolio

This Comment discusses the complexity of how ocean acidification and phosphate limitation affect phytoplankton physiologies, as well as what future research is needed to address remaining crucial questions.

Tiny phytoplankton are the base of ocean production and thus critical to carbon storage, carbon fluxes and living marine resources. Now, research suggests that the vertical migration of these organisms provides a previously under-recognized resiliency to climate warming.

A multiyear study links viral activity in the surface ocean with the habitat range of the cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus.

A virus has been found inserted into the genome of the most abundant bacteria in the oceans. Even though the virus can kill its host, the genes carried by the prophage may help these bacteria flourish around the world.

Two recent studies report marine microbial diversity pole to pole, using data collected from the Tara Oceans expedition.