Global Change and Thermal Biology

We are interested in how phytoplankton and other organisms respond to changing temperatures, including global warming, and how temperature interacts with other environmental factors in affecting organism's fitness. We use physiological and eco-evolutionary experiments, large data set analyses, mathematical models, and field observations to understand short- and long-term effects of temperature. Here are some key publications (you can start exploring with the ones in bold).

Are we underestimating the ecological and evolutionary effects of warming? Interactions with other environmental drivers may increase species vulnerability to high temperatures

E Litchman, MK Thomas 2023

Oikos 

Temperature‐dependent evolution of cell morphology and carbon and nutrient content in a marine diatom

DR O'Donnell, SM Beery, E Litchman 2021

Limnology and Oceanography 66 (12), 4334-4346

Nitrogen limitation inhibits marine diatom adaptation to high temperatures

M Aranguren‐Gassis, CT Kremer, CA Klausmeier, E Litchman. 2019

Ecology letters 22 (11), 1860-1869

Experimental evolution of phytoplankton fatty acid thermal reaction norms

DR O'Donnell, Z Du, E Litchman. 2019

Evolutionary Applications.

Temperature effects on growth rates and fatty acid content in freshwater algae and cyanobacteria

JO Nalley, DR O'Donnell, E Litchman. 2018

Algal research 35, 500-507

Rapid thermal adaptation in a marine diatom reveals constraints and trade‐offs

DR O'Donnell, CR Hamman, EC Johnson, CT Kremer, CA Klausmeier, E Litchman. 2018

Global change biology 24 (10), 4554-4565

Temperature–nutrient interactions exacerbate sensitivity to warming in phytoplankton

MK Thomas, M Aranguren‐Gassis, CT Kremer, MR Gould, K Anderson, CA Klausmeier, E Litchman. 2017

Global Change Biology 23 (8), 3269-3280

Temperature‐and size‐scaling of phytoplankton population growth rates: Reconciling the Eppley curve and the metabolic theory of ecology

CT Kremer, MK Thomas, E Litchman. 2017

Limnology and oceanography 62 (4), 1658-1670

Phytoplankton growth and the interaction of light and temperature: A synthesis at the species and community level

KF Edwards, MK Thomas, CA Klausmeier, E Litchman. 2016

Limnology and Oceanography 61, 1232–1244

Environment and evolutionary history determine the global biogeography of phytoplankton temperature traits

MK Thomas, Kremer, C.T., E. Litchman. 2016

Global Ecology and Biogeography

Effects of temperature and nitrogen availability on the growth of invasive and native cyanobacteria

MK Thomas, E Litchman. 2015

Hydrobiologia

Marine phytoplankton temperature versus growth responses from polar to tropical waters–outcome of a scientific community-wide study

PW Boyd, TA Rynearson, EA Armstrong, F Fu, K Hayashi, Z Hu, et al. 2013

PloS one 8 (5), e63091

A global pattern of thermal adaptation in marine phytoplankton

MK Thomas, CT Kremer, CA Klausmeier, E Litchman. 2012

Science 338 (6110), 1085-1088