Marine microorganisms form the invisible foundation upon which ocean life depends. Despite their microscopic size, they regulate major biogeochemical cycles, sustain primary productivity, and play a decisive role in maintaining the balance and resilience of marine ecosystems. As climate change intensifies and marine pollution expands in scale and complexity, the responses of these microbial communities have become central to understanding the future of the oceans. This work explores the diversity of marine microorganisms and examines how rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, physical oceanographic changes, and multiple pollution sources interact to reshape microbial structure and function. Current evidence shows that shifts in temperature and seawater chemistry can alter microbial metabolism, community composition, and ecological interactions, with far-reaching consequences for carbon cycling, nutrient availability, and food web dynamics. At the same time, chemical pollutants, plastics, heavy metals, and excess nutrients impose strong selective pressures, often disrupting microbial balance while also promoting the emergence of microorganisms capable of degrading contaminants. These dual responses highlight marine microbes as both sensitive indicators of environmental stress and active contributors to ecosystem recovery. By bringing together recent scientific insights, this study underscores the essential role of marine microorganisms in ocean ecosystem regulation and climate change adaptation and emphasizes the need to incorporate microbial processes more fully into ocean monitoring, climate modeling, and sustainable marine management efforts.
Abusabha A. Y., Alhawamdeh M., Alyami F. A., Alyami B. Z., Buasedah S. A. A., Alhammadi S. M., Alshehri R. J., Naji M. H. A., Azzam M. A., Al zamanan F. H., Alyami M. A., Alyami I. A., Mohamed M. O. & Ali S., 2026. The invisible engine of the oceans: marine microorganisms driving climate resilience and ecosystem stability: a literature review. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries 30(1): 2277 – 2299. Article.
