A new study recently published in the UK journal Nature Communications has found that climate change may lead to a reduction in the global distribution of brown algae and seaweed. This study provides new evidence for the widespread impact of climate change on marine life. Brown algae and seaweed are key plants in building marine ecosystems. They participate in nutrient cycling, promote carbon sequestration, mitigate climate change, and promote fisheries development, providing important ecological and socio-economic functions for coastal areas. In this collaborative research project between the University of Helsinki in Finland and the European Commission Joint Research Center, researchers modeled the estimated distribution of 207 species of brown algae and seagrass under different climate change conditions and simulated their future global distribution. The results show that by 2100, the global distribution range of brown algae and seagrass will be reduced by 5% to 6%, and local diversity in many parts of the world will decrease by an average of 3% to 4%. Habitats highly suitable for the growth of brown algae and seagrass will be reduced by at least 70% in some parts of the world. Researchers suggest that the reduction of brown algae and seaweed can affect other species and damage the integrity of ecosystems. (Lai Xin She)