Ocean Acidification

Open for submissions

Submission deadline: 15 March 2027

Rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are reshaping ocean systems at every level, from seawater chemistry to ecosystem functioning and global biogeochemical cycles. As acidification, warming, and deoxygenation intensify, marine organisms and ecosystems face unprecedented physiological and ecological pressures. These changes influence biodiversity patterns, alter food‑web dynamics, and disrupt the ocean’s capacity to regulate climate and support essential ecosystem services. Understanding how marine systems respond to these carbon‑driven stressors is critical for predicting future ocean states and safeguarding the ecological functions upon which human societies depend.

Recent advances in experimental, observational, and modelling approaches have deepened our understanding of how elevated CO₂ affects marine organisms, communities, and biogeochemical processes. Long‑term monitoring efforts have revealed accelerating shifts in carbonate chemistry and oxygen availability, while physiological and ecological studies highlight species‑specific sensitivities and adaptive capacities. At the ecosystem scale, research is uncovering how multiple stressors interact to influence productivity, nutrient cycling, and resilience. Emerging work on marine carbon dioxide removal further underscores the need to evaluate both ecological risks and potential climate benefits within a rapidly changing ocean.

This Collection brings together interdisciplinary research that advances our understanding of ocean ecosystems under high‑CO₂ conditions. Contributions examine the mechanisms, impacts, and broader implications of carbon‑driven change across biological, chemical, and ecological dimensions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Ocean acidification and its impact on marine organisms, communities, and ecosystems
• Ocean warming, deoxygenation, and interactions among multiple climate stressors
• Changes in marine biodiversity, community structure, and ecosystem functioning under elevated CO₂
• Shifts in ocean biogeochemical cycles, including carbon, nutrient, and oxygen dynamics
• Physiological responses and adaptive capacity of marine organisms to carbon‑driven stress
• Ecosystem‑level consequences of high‑CO₂ conditions, including productivity and food‑web dynamics
• Ecological implications of marine carbon dioxide removal approaches
• Modelling and forecasting future ocean states in a high‑CO₂ climate
• Long‑term observations and experimental studies on carbon‑related ocean change
• Management, conservation, and resilience strategies for carbon‑stressed marine ecosystems

For submissions to Ocean Ecosystems in 2026, waivers are available upon request.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 14: Life Below Water.

All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member or Guest Editor who has no competing interests. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.

Springer Nature Link, 5 November 2027. More information.