Stay Connected to Be Diverse!

Plankton biodiversity is crucial for the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, influencing nutrient cycling, food web dynamics, and carbon storage. Global change and habitat destruction disrupt these ecosystems, reducing species diversity and ecosystem resilience. Connectivity between aquatic habitats supports biodiversity by enabling species migration, genetic diversity, and recovery from disturbances. However, research on how connectivity loss impacts plankton remains limited. A study by Szabó et al. used controlled experiments to show that habitat fragmentation significantly influences phytoplankton diversity. These findings highlight the need to conserve both biodiversity and habitat connectivity to sustain freshwater ecosystems and combat global environmental challenges.