Algal Stress Responses: Molecular and Ecological Perspectives

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 1472

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202301, Taiwan
Interests: microbial ecology; phytoplankton physiology; marine biogeochemistry; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Phytoplankton are tiny unicellular organisms crucial to the Earth's food chain and the carbon cycle. Due to their small size and high sensitivity, they are often among the first organisms to respond to environmental changes on a global scale. Therefore, it is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the physiological regulatory mechanisms in phytoplankton under stress. This knowledge will not only enhance our understanding of their basic biology but will also help us predict how they will respond to changes in the global environment. Our research showed that during the stationary stage of diatom growth, damage to the electron transport system in the photosystem caused nitric oxide to function as a signaling molecule. This, in turn, triggered a significant expression of death-specific proteins (DSPs), ultimately leading to programmed cell death in the diatoms.

In this Special Issue, we will explore the physiological mechanisms by which phytoplankton adapt to stressful conditions and predict how these responses will help them cope with global environmental changes. We welcome submissions discussing the physiological responses of phytoplankton under various stresses. Additionally, studies that examine the mechanisms behind algal bloom initiation and termination and the effects of pollutants on these organisms in aquatic environments are encouraged.

Dr. Chih-Ching Chung
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • phytoplankton
  • stress
  • global changes

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 1768 KB  
Review
A Review of Phytoplankton Sinking Rates: Mechanisms, Methodologies, and Biogeochemical Implications
by Jie Zhu, Jiahong Cheng, Jiangning Zeng, Wei Zhang, Chenggang Liu, Kokoette Sunday Effiong and Qiang Hao
Biology 2026, 15(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15020130 - 12 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1103
Abstract
Phytoplankton sinking is a pivotal process within the biological carbon pump that drives the vertical transport of organic carbon in the ocean. Its rates and underlying mechanisms directly influence the efficiency of the global carbon cycle and the potential for long-term sequestration. This [...] Read more.
Phytoplankton sinking is a pivotal process within the biological carbon pump that drives the vertical transport of organic carbon in the ocean. Its rates and underlying mechanisms directly influence the efficiency of the global carbon cycle and the potential for long-term sequestration. This review synthesizes current knowledge of phytoplankton sinking, encompassing buoyancy regulation mechanisms, environmental and physiological controls, methodological approaches such as settling column (SETCOL), and comparative evidence from laboratory and field studies. The aim is to elucidate the regulatory processes governing sinking and to provide a foundation for improving ecological models and refining estimates of carbon export. Evidence demonstrates that sinking rates vary considerably among phytoplankton groups, with nutrient limitation and aggregation emerging as critical modulators of export efficiency. By integrating results from experimental and in situ research, this review identifies unresolved questions and highlights priority areas: (1) quantitative coupling between aggregation and carbon flux; (2) mechanistic understanding of group-specific sinking responses; (3) integration of novel technologies, including in situ imaging and high-resolution modeling with established methods; and (4) development of interdisciplinary frameworks. Overall, this review consolidates current knowledge and underscores phytoplankton sinking as a crucial yet insufficiently resolved process within the marine carbon cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algal Stress Responses: Molecular and Ecological Perspectives)
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