Phys.org reported on Friday that ocean acidification may interfere with the ability of diatoms to capture carbon and could disrupt marine food webs.
According to Phys.org, the finding points to a possible two-part problem: a shift in how much carbon these organisms help pull from the water, and knock-on effects for the animals that depend on them.
Diatoms are a type of microscopic marine life, and the report describes them as playing a role in carbon capture. Phys.org's summary does not detail the specific mechanism behind the disruption, the scale of the potential impact, or the research methods involved.
The report frames the concern around marine food webs as well as carbon cycling, suggesting that changes at the level of these tiny organisms could matter beyond their own populations. Phys.org does not specify which species or regions might be most affected.
The reporting is limited to the headline and summary, so the underlying study's authors, journal and measurements are not described here.
What to watch next: whether the researchers publish fuller findings on how acidification alters diatom carbon capture, and what that means for the food webs that rely on them.