Phytoplankton. Phytoplankton Taxonomy Diatoms Dinoflagellates Coccolithophores Cyanobacteria others…

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton Taxonomy

• Diatoms• Dinoflagellates• Coccolithophores• Cyanobacteria• others…

Diatoms

• Frustule valves (Silica)• Pennate and Radial species• Autotrophic

Diatoms

Diatoms

Diatoms

Diatoms

Diatom Asexual Reproduction

Dinoflagelates

• 2 Flagella (certain mobility)• Theca plates (Cellulose)• Autotrophic, heterotrophic &

mixotrophic

Dinoflagelates

Diatoms vs Dinoflagellates

• Medium Light Intensity• Medium Nutrients• Temperate regions

• High Light Intensity• Very Low Nutrients• Tropical regions, low

productivity regions

Light Adaptation

Alexandrium tamarense Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

(PSP)

Alexandrium spp. Blooms:

- High temp.- Low salinity

Gambierdiscus toxicusCiguatera Fish Poisoning

(CFP)

Pseudo-nitzschia spp.Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP)

Demoic Acid

Kogia breviceps

Chaetoceros spp.

Coccolithofores

• Calcareous plates• Small size – Nanoplankton

(>20μm)• Low productivity regions

Emiliania huxleyi www.earthguide.ucsd.edu

Florisphaera profunda

www.earthguide.ucsd.edu

Phytoplankton Distribution

Cyanobacteria & other Prokaryotic

Autotrophs• Very small size – Picoplankton

(>2μm)• Deepest waters• Open Ocean, low productivity

Cyanobacteria

Flow Cytometry

Identifying leukemias and lymphomas of mature B and T cells

DNA ploidy analysis of solid cancerous tumors

DNA fragment size quantification

Ultrasensitive fluorescence detection

Flow Cytometry

Absorption Spectrum

Light Penetration

Light Adaptation

High Light Adapted

Low Light Adapted

Chlorophyll Concentration

Figure 15.1d

Figure 15.1e