Climate effects on temporal and spatial dynamics of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Barents Sea

•The Barents Sea is undergoing unprecedented changes in temperature and sea ice cover.•Less sea ice leads to more open water and longer growing seasons for phytoplankton.•Strong increase in net primary production (NPP) estimates during the last 20 years.•Higher NPP may have caused stable mesozooplankton biomass in recent years.•Weakening of negative relationship between capelin and zooplankton in recent years.