WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
Ancient DNA suggests marine communities may lag rapid physical climate change. Sedimentary eDNA from past warm/ice-free periods indicates warmer, ice-free Labrador Sea conditions supported higher eukaryotic diversity, but community shifts occurred more slowly than abrupt atmospheric warming.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Surface-ocean state, rather than atmospheric temperature alone, appeared to govern ecological response.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
A Late Quaternary sediment record offers historical evidence of response lags. It does not predict the timing or magnitude of present-day community change.
SOURCE
Communications Earth & Environment · De Schepper et al. · 2026
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