Species interactions among eukaryotic microorganisms (protists) in diverse marine environments challenge our understanding of the consequences of climate change and anthropogenic influences on harmful algal blooms (HABs). Marine HAB protistan microbiomes range from symbiotic relationships with other microeukaryotes to mutually beneficial interactions among community microbiota, including bacteria. The complex predator-prey and competitive interactions among protists, bacteria, and microfauna define the top-down processes of functional microbiomes and HAB dynamics in the ocean.

The primary aim in this research topic is to provide convincing evidence that microscale events within and among protistan consortia can be plausibly extrapolated to shifts in biodiversity, speciation, and biogeography among HAB species at the ecosystem level.

This research topic highlights recent advances in ‘omics and physicochemical detection technologies to describe and define protistan species interactions at the cellular and microscale in diverse marine environments. These domains include the pelagic and benthic zones of coastal and estuarine ecosystems and the open ocean. Within this broad spectrum, this topic will particularly focus on spatially defined ecosystems affected by HABs, such as coral reefs and stratified thin layers, and the processes that occur upon respective substrates on the microscale.

This research topic aims to provide an integrated interpretation of HAB microbiome structure and function to yield plausible scenarios and conceptual models because of regime shifts in a changing ocean. This knowledge can then be employed to develop and implement effective countermeasures to mitigate risks and damage to human health and ecosystem function caused by HABs and to optimize the delivery of ecosystem services from the human perspective. Specific questions to be addressed include: How do microscale interactions among protists influence HAB dynamics at larger scales? What are the key drivers of biodiversity shifts within HAB-associated microbiomes? How can advanced detection technologies enhance our understanding of these interactions?

To gather further insights into the species interactions of protistan microbiomes associated with harmful algal blooms in a changing ocean, we welcome the contribution of Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Opinions, Methods, and Perspective articles in any of the following sub-topics:

- Advanced approaches for assessment of protistan microbiome status and stability associated with HABs

- Description and risk assessment of HAB biodiversity shifts at the micro- and mesoscale in specific marine
environments

- Consequences of HAB microbiota consortium shifts on marine ecosystem function and stability

- Countermeasures to prevent or limit HAB bio-invasions and mitigate impacts via control strategies

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Frontiers in Protistology

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