Ocean Warming and Microbial Evolution

Ocean warming is altering the behavior, evolution, and growth of marine microbes, especially phytoplankton. At the Hutchins-Fu Lab, we study how rising temperatures and interacting environmental stressors drive physiological change and evolutionary adaptation in key phytoplankton groups that sustain marine ecosystems and global nutrient cycles.

Focus Areas

Thermal Adaptation and Evolution in Phytoplankton
We examine how phytoplankton like Synechococcus and Pseudo-nitzschia respond to increased temperature over time. Experimental evolution studies show that even genetically similar strains can develop distinct thermal traits, with tradeoffs between growth rate and temperature tolerance.

• 2023 PNAS: Coexisting thermal ecotypes in Synechococcus revealed niche differentiation shaped by warming.

Heatwaves and Species Interactions
Marine heatwaves restructure species competition. Our lab explores how warming alters growth and toxin production in bloom-forming diatoms like Pseudo-nitzschia, and how it affects interactions with macroalgae.

• 2024 Science of the Total Environment: Warming changed competitive dynamics between Skeletonema and macroalgae.

• 2023 Harmful Algae: Heatwaves increased domoic acid toxicity despite similar growth outcomes.

 Iron Limitation in a Warming Ocean
We study how warming interacts with iron scarcity in low-nutrient ocean regions, especially in nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and small phytoplankton. These interactions can constrain growth or shift community composition.

• 2024 Frontiers in Microbiology: Warming and iron limitation affected Synechococcus protein expression.

• 2023 Biogeosciences: Olivine dissolution products influenced phytoplankton response under warming.

 Viral Interactions and UV Stress
Warming and UV radiation impact virus-host relationships. Our work shows that warming can increase vulnerability to viral infection, but UV radiation may counteract this.

• 2025 Plant Cell and Environment: UV radiation reduced virus-driven damage in a warming ocean.

 Ocean Fertilization and Microbial Response
We evaluate the potential for ocean iron fertilization to boost productivity under warming, while assessing how microbial evolution could affect long-term outcomes.

• 2024 Earth-Science Reviews: Highlighted complex feedbacks and ecological risks of iron fertilization.

Why It Matters

Microbial adaptation to climate stress determines how the ocean will respond to warming. By understanding these responses, the Hutchins-Fu Lab contributes to better predictions of ocean productivity, carbon cycling, and climate feedbacks.