| Domain | Oceanic | Description | Climate variability significantly impacts plankton in the ocean, both the microflora (phytoplankton) and the microfauna (zooplankton), over both short (seasonal to interannual) and long (decadal) time scales. Changes in temperature, salinity, freshwater discharge and loadings of sediments and nutrients, acidification, light, wind forcing and currents impact the abundance, distribution, phenology, diversity, and productivity of these organisms. They are at the base of the marine food web and not fished by humans, though the significant impact of climate on plankton in turn has impacts on the rest of the marine ecosystem including the living marine resources used by humans. [GCOS-195 5.3.10] |