Copper: An essential metal in biology

So, what’s the verdict, good or bad? Boring algae clearly have important functions in reef ecosystems and will influence how they cope with climate change and ocean acidification in the near future. However, we cannot yet give a verdict as to whether they will act as a buffer against these environmental changes or make the situation worse. Little is known about the ecophysiological diversity of boring algae, hence their response is difficult to predict. Recent research shows that the genotypic diversity of Ostreobium is remarkably rich, leading us to speculate that this will be reflected in their physiological diversity and geographical distributions. While this will complicate the interpretation of research outcomes not taking this diversity into account, it also opens up an exciting avenue of research into the details of the functional multiplicity of boring algae.