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Scientists map the ocean’s invisible workforce of microbes
- A USC Dornsife study maps ocean microbes by metabolic strategy, not just species, to explain the carbon cycle.
- Researchers identified eight metabolic groups that describe how microbes obtain and use nutrients.
- Generalist microbes dominate nutrient-rich coastal waters, while specialists prevail in open oceans.
- The framework could improve climate models by simplifying microbial diversity into functional groups.
- Study builds on 2025 work showing copiotrophs and oligotrophs explain large-scale carbon patterns.
- The researchers caution data gaps and model assumptions limit accuracy.
- Future work includes more lab experiments and better genomic data to refine the model.
- The study was published in Science Advances and led by Naomi Levine.
- The 2025 study by Zakem and Fuhrman’s group provided a comparative backdrop.
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