PLANKTON www.imagequest3d.com
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: Phytoplankton Plant, Autotrophic Primary Producer Produce 80% Oxygen supply Ex: Diatoms, Dinoflagellates Zooplankton Animal, Heterotrophic Consumer Holoplankton, Meroplankton Ex: Copepod, Crab, Jelly
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 www.imagequest3d.com COCCOLITHOPHORES
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
Diatoms (Division Chrysophyta) Photo Credit: Dr. Neil Sullivan, University of Southern Calif. / National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration / Dept. of Commerce
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/images/di/img/chloro.jpg Coscinodiscus www.imagequest3d.com
Chain Diatoms Photo by George Rowland http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/pl_08.jpg Diatomaceous Earth – silicaceous shells piled up over millions of years – used for Paint, Silver Polish, Filters, Insulation
Dinoflagellates • Microscopic • Mostly unicellular • Responsible for = red tides, bioluminescence • Noctiluca = “night light” Noctiluca Bloom Photo Credit: PJS Franks (Photographer) / National Ocean Service Photo Gallery
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. Florida Red Tide Bloom of Karenia brevis www.whoi.edu/rtphotos
Florida Coastal Zone Scanner Image of Karenia brevis bloom in Nov 1978 www.whoi.edu/redtide
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
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/imgjan99/barn.jpg Major Groups of Zooplankton
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 Yenhttp://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
Humpback Whales Feeding on Mostly Krill Photo Credit: OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP)
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 www.imagequest3d.com www.imagequest3d.com
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
Squidlings Sea Star Larvae Zoea crab larvae
Zoea Crab Larva Portunus rubromarginatus Photo Credit: Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland
