The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Among the consequences are changes in temperature and atmospheric CO₂ levels, which can impact hydrological flows, biodiversity, and primary production in aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, these factors may influence, either individually or in combination, the metabolic composition as well as the production and extracellular release of metabolites by algae. This study combines a systematic review with a scientometric analysis (research weaving) to investigate the effects of temperature and acidification on metabolite production by algae. We analyzed publication trends, the most studied environmental factors, the ecosystems most frequently addressed, taxonomic groups, and existing knowledge gaps. Among the metabolites, a greater research interest is observed in lipid-related studies, while carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins remain underexplored. Furthermore, many studies focus on the responses of isolated organisms, highlighting the need for research on the effects of climate change on microalgal communities and their interactions with organisms from other trophic levels. Our findings highlight critical gaps in the literature and provide a solid foundation to guide future research on the effects of climate change on metabolite production by algae, with relevant ecological and biotechnological implications.
Tourinho et al. (Fri,) studied this question.