PLANKTON

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What is Plankton?

• Plankton comes from the Greek word “planktos”, which means to “wander”

• Animals and Plants that float, drift, or are weak swimmers

http://marinefisheries.org/fish/plankton.jpg

Groupings of Plankton:

ZooplanktonAnimal, Heterotrophic

Consumer

Holoplankton, Meroplankton

Ex: Copepod, Crab, Jelly

PhytoplanktonPlant, Autotrophic

Primary Producer

Produce 80% Oxygen supply

Ex: Diatoms, Dinoflagellates

Groupings of Zooplankton:

• Holoplankton: zooplankton that spend their WHOLE lives as plankton

• Meroplankton: zooplankton that spend only part of their lives as plankton

Major groups of Phytoplankton

DIATOMS

DINOFLAGELLATES

COCCOLITHOPHORESwww.imagequest3d.com

Diatoms• Microscopic; extremely abundant

• Important food source for marine organisms• Single-cells, chain, loose “clusters”

• Oil droplets in cell - slow sinking

Asterionella – a colony of pennate diatoms; photo by Jan Parmentier

Centriclive diatom www.indiana.edu

Photo Credit: Dr. Neil Sullivan, University of Southern Calif. / National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration / Dept. of Commerce

Diatoms (Division Chrysophyta)

Coscinodiscus

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/images/di/img/chloro.jpg

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Chain Diatoms

Diatomaceous Earth – silicaceous shells piled up over millions of years – used for Paint, Silver Polish, Filters, Insulation

Photo by George Rowlandhttp://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/pl_08.jpg

Dinoflagellates

• Microscopic • Mostly unicellular

• Responsible for = red tides, bioluminescence

• Noctiluca = “night light”

Noctiluca Bloom

Photo Credit: PJS Franks (Photographer) / National Ocean Service Photo Gallery

Florida Red Tide Bloom of Karenia brevis www.whoi.edu/rtphotos

In addition to adverse health effects, harmful algal blooms are responsible for the loss of millions of dollars from commercial and recreational fisheries and from tourist industries.

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Florida Coastal

Zone Scanner Image

of Karenia brevis bloom in Nov 1978

Coccolithophores• One-celled marine plants - live

in large numbers, can make water appear milky or chalky

• Live near surface in brightly lit areas

• Calcareous ooze = White Cliffs of Dover

Earthobservatory.nasa.gov/library/coccolithophores

Coccolithophores

Scanning electron photography by Vita Pariente. Microscopy was done at the

Electron Microscopy Center, Texas A&M University.

White Cliffs of Dover

Photo Credit: Dover District Council

Major Groups of Zooplankton

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/imgjan99/barn.jpg

Copepods• Crustaceans

• Holoplankton; 95% of all ocean Zooplankton

• Most abundant animal – biggest biomass = insects of the sea

• Biggest source of Protein

• Contribute greatly to marine snow – fecal pellets

• Eat phytoplankton and zooplankton

Photo by Jeannette Yen http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/pl_08.jpg

http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/zoomorphology/Bilder/Nauplien.jpg

Foraminiferans• Holoplankton

• Calcium Carbonate shell• Calcareous ooze accumulates

on ocean floor

Radiolarians• Holoplankton• Shell of Silica

• Siliceous ooze forms on seafloor in equatorial regions

Photo credit: Oceanlink

Ctenophores: Comb Jellies - “Sea Snot”

• Holoplankton

• No stinging cells

• Bioluminescent

Krill

Photo Credit: OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP)

Humpback Whales Feeding on Mostly Krill

Mola mola can reach 8 ft. in length

Photo Credit: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration / Dept. of Commerce

MEROPLANKTON• Zooplankton that spend only part of their lives as

plankton

Crabs * Spiny Lobsters

Jellyfish * Sea Stars

Snails * Barnacles

Coral * Fish

Bristleworms

Brittle Star and Coral Larvae Goose Barnacles

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Nauplius Barnacle Larvae and adult Barnacle

Goose Barnacle Larvae and adults

Clam larvae and adult

Flounder Larvae Octopus Larvae

Mantis Shrimp Larvae

Portuguese – Man – Of - War

Sea Star Larvae

Zoea crab larvae

Squidlings

Portunus rubromarginatusZoea Crab Larva

Photo Credit: Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland

Primary Producers(Phytoplankton)

Primary Consumers(Zooplankton)

Secondary Consumers

Humans

Carnivores

Only about 10% of the energy is

transferred(Filter Feeders)