Redefining the photic zone: beyond the autotroph-centric view of light in the ocean

Davies, TW and Smyth, TJ 2025 Redefining the photic zone: beyond the autotroph-centric view of light in the ocean. Communications Earth & Environment, 6 (1). 10.1038/s43247-025-02374-2

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Abstract/Summary

Traditional measures of the photic zone have remained focused on autotrophs, limiting understanding of how changing marine lightscapes impact heterotrophs that use light as a resource or an environmental cue. We propose a new photic zone definition that encompasses all biological processes influenced by celestial light, and a new measure of photic zone depth, the minimum light intensity that elicits biological responses. This approach allows photic zone measures to be inclusive of all marine photobiology driven by sunlight, moonlight, or starlight, and enables urgently needed exploration of the nature, extent and ecological implications of changing marine lightscapes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Marine Biochemistry and Observations
Depositing User:	S Hawkins
Date made live:	24 Jul 2025 15:19
Last Modified:	24 Jul 2025 15:19
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/10476

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