Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology are studying how brown algae contribute to carbon storage in the ocean. The complex sugars in these algae are difficult for most bacteria to break down, which helps keep carbon sequestered in marine environments. New findings highlight the role of Akkermansiaceae bacteria, which specialize in breaking down these tough sugars. Understanding this microbial process is key to mapping how the ocean cycles carbon and maintains its capacity as a global carbon sink.
