Changes in thermal stratification patterns, such as length of growing season and vertical mixing processes corresponding to mixed layer depth (MLD), have become major factors affecting phytoplankton growth and biomass variations under climate change, particularly in tropical and subtropical oceans (Calbet et al., 2015;Hadfield & Sharples, 1996). Studies have shown that an increase in stratification limits nutrient supply, leads to decreases in phytoplankton biomass and productivity, and further alters food chains and values of marine ecosystem services (Boyce et al., 2010;Schofield et al., 2018;Winder & Sommer, 2012). Phytoplankton are the ultimate source of organic materials driving food-web processes and ecosystem properties, and they account for approximately half of global primary production, amounting to approximately 50 Pg of carbon per year (Field et al., 1998). The