Phytoplankton
Lecture 8
Marine Biology
Plankton Review
1. What are plankton?
Drifting organisms who can not swim against
a current.
2. How big are plankton?
Typically Microscopic, but plankton include
jellyfish and the ocean sunfish, who can reach
6-8 feet and some 300 plus pounds.
3. What kingdom(s) do the plankton belong to?
Protista, but also monera, few plantae, few
animalia (Larvae mostly).
Types and Importance
- What are the two types of
plankton?
Phytoplankton – Plant-like.
Zooplankton – Animal-Like.
- What is the role of plankton in
the marine ecosystem?
They represent the first two levels of all food chains.
Provide nutrition for other organisms. Plus,
phytoplankton produce an estimated 80% of the
Oxygen gas on earth.
Phytoplankton: Kingdom Protista
The two most common phytoplankton in our
local environment are Diatoms and
Dinoflagellates.
Diatoms
Kingdom: Protista
Phylum: Chrysophyta
Characteristics:
1) Golden Brown Color.
2) Two part silica
(Glass) shell.
3) Phytoplankton.
4) Shells can be very
diverse, pretty.
5) Asexual
Reproduction.
- Wim van Egmond
Diatom Adaptations
- How do diatoms get energy? Sun - Photosynthesis
-How does the shell (Silica) aid it? Glass- Transparent
-Where would you expect Diatoms to be in the water column?
Why?
Near top – Where the suns at!
- What are some adaptations for diatoms to accomplish the
above?
Lets look.
Diatom Adaptations continued
1)Spines
2)Pores
3)Oils
4)Chains
Photos by Jan Parmentier
Diatoms in the
Environment
What is the primary role of
Diatoms in the environment?
Food and Oxygen Production
Are they all eaten? NO!
What happens to them those that
don’t?
Die and sink to the ocean floor.
Diatomaceous Earth
- Diatomite: Is bottom sediment with a load of
dead diatoms mixed into it. The diatoms (soft
body) is gone, but the silica shells remain.
The Diatomaceous earth is mined for use in ….
1) Paint (reflective)
2) Toothpaste (Gritty)
3) Filtering Agent
(Pores)
4) Soil Additive (Pores)
Dinoflagellates
Kingdom: Protista
Phylum: Pyrrophyta
“Pyro” - Fire
Characteristics:
1) Long Flagella (In grooves).
- used for movement.
2) Red pigments.
3) Phytoplankton.
4) Exhibit Vertical Migration.
- Daily Cycle
5) Some are Bioluminescent.
6) Sexual and Asexual reproduction.
Dinoflagellate Diversity
Bioluminescent
- Biotic reaction that
produces light. (No
heat).
Local species: Noctiluca
– means “Night Light”,
can give surf zone a
greenish-blue hue at
night.
Red Tide
A bloom of plankton that turns
water a reddish color.
Associated with toxins
produced by dinoflagellates.
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Gonyaulax and Gymnodinium sp.= Saxitoxin
Karenia sp. = Brevetoxin
Other Phytoplankton
Blue-Green Algae
Kingdom: Monera
Phylum: Cyanophyta
Characteristics:
1)Color due to 2 pigments.
- Blue = Phycocyanine
- Green = chlorophyll
2) Photosynthetic bacteria.
Example: Oscillatoria sp.
-Has the pigments
typical, but also
Phycoerytherin (red).
-Can Bloom causing a
non-toxic, red-tide.
-Responsible for color
of the Red Sea.
Phytoplankton Activity
• Follow directions on handout.
• Using prepared slide or live samples, draw
examples of diatoms, dinoflagellates and bluegreen algae.
• Answer appropriate questions