Introducing Ocean Ecosystems Our ocean ecosystems are of immense ecological, climatic, and economic importance. Yet, the ecological functioning and diversity of these ecosystems remain largely unexplored. Historically, much greater effort has been placed in publishing research on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems compared to the marine environment [ 1], and the importance of processes within these systems is considered comparatively overlooked by other disciplines [ 2].

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Climate change is drastically altering the composition and abundance of seaweed-dominated ecosystems throughout our oceans. Ocean warming and associated inte...

An analysis of coral reefs in the tropical western Atlantic suggests that nearly all will be eroding by 2100 if global warming exceeds 2 °C, which will worsen the effects of sea-level rise.

Coastal regions are complex habitats, where multiple natural and anthropogenic drivers can interact to affect the survival and growth of marine organisms. The giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera is sensi...

Coral reef range expansion takes centuries, and higher-latitude seas are therefore ineffective refugia for most tropical corals.