Zooplankton migrations help regulate the global climate by transporting carbon
In short: Researchers reviewing two centuries of data found that zooplankton vertical migration is vital for the planet. These tiny organisms move between deep and shallow waters on daily and seasonal cycles, a process that helps transport organic carbon to the ocean depths, potentially buffering the effects of global climate change.
This review highlights how both daily and seasonal movements assist in biological carbon sequestration. While the drivers of daily migrations are well-documented, the causes of seasonal shifts remain less understood. The researchers note that studying these complex patterns across different scales is difficult, and future progress requires moving from population-level observations to tracking individual organisms using advanced technology.
Why it matters: Understanding these microscopic movements is crucial for predicting how climate change affects the ocean's ability to store carbon.
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