ABSTRACT
Hypothesis: A small rise in ocean temperature enables destabilizing conformations of DHA/EPA that result in uncoupling of photosynthesis.
With global climate change now a reality, the twenty-rst century may turn out to be the golden era of ecological science. Already there is great public awareness of the immense harm to ecosystems that might occur if global climate change continues unabated. The intricate and vital relationship among mankind and other life forms is now widely appreciated. The case of DHA/EPA provides an opportunity to apply the DHA principle toward understanding the impact of global climate change on oceanic productivity. We start with the effect of warming ocean temperatures on the phytoplankton that are the major producers of DHA/EPA in the biosphere and follow the consequences as these chains move through the marine food web (Figure 17.1).
