Marine microorganisms are fundamental to oceanic ecosystems, comprising over 90% of oceanic biomass and underpinning critical processes such as biogeochemical cycling, energy transfer, and climate regulation. These highly adaptable organisms inhabit a vast array of marine environments, ranging from nutrient-depleted gyres and frigid polar waters to hydrothermal vents in the deep sea. Their capacity to perceive and respond to diverse environmental stressors is vital for maintaining both their own survival and overall ecosystem stability. The complex interactions among marine microbes—whether synergistic, competitive, or symbiotic—significantly influence community structure and ecological function. Given the rapid changes in ocean conditions driven by global climate shifts and increasing anthropogenic impacts, a deeper understanding of marine microbial adaptation, interaction, and distribution across spatial and temporal scales is more important than ever.

This Research Topic seeks to address fundamental and emerging questions about how marine microorganisms adapt to environmental challenges, interact with one another, and distribute throughout diverse oceanic habitats. Although recent advancements in meta-omics, single-cell technologies, and ecological modeling have expanded our knowledge, many molecular, genetic, and ecological mechanisms underlying microbial adaptation and community assembly remain elusive. Critical questions include: How do marine microbes respond at the cellular and community levels to fluctuations in temperature, salinity, pressure, or nutrient availability? What are the ecological consequences of microbial interactions such as syntrophy, competition, or phage-host relationships for shaping marine microbiomes? How are patterns of microbial biogeography governed by dispersal constraints, evolutionary processes, and environmental selection?

We encourage submissions that integrate laboratory experimentation, in situ observations, bioinformatics, and systems-level analyses. By assembling a collection of such work, this Research Topic aims to reveal the mechanisms driving marine microbial adaptation, interaction, and distribution, ultimately advancing predictive understanding of marine ecosystem responses to environmental change.

We invite original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methods papers that focus broadly on the ecology, physiology, and evolution of marine microorganisms. We especially welcome contributions exploring, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Molecular and physiological mechanisms underpinning microbial adaptation to extreme or fluctuating marine environments

• Interspecies interactions among marine microbes (e.g., symbiosis, competition, signaling, horizontal gene transfer)

• Patterns and drivers of microbial biogeography and community assembly across spatial and temporal gradients

• Effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities on marine microbial community structure and function

• Novel methodologies for culturing, imaging, or modeling marine microbial systems

• Integration and application of multi-omics approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) in marine microbiology research

All contributions should provide fresh insights into marine microbial systems and appeal to a broad readership in marine biology and microbial ecology.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Marine Microbial Ecology: Adaptation, Evolution, and Environmental Responses