Plankton

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Chapter 5

Life in the OceansLife in the Oceans

““This is the fascinating This is the fascinating stuff!” stuff!”

Physical Factors Affecting Physical Factors Affecting LifeLife

• LightLight

• TemperatureTemperature

• Dissolved NutrientsDissolved Nutrients

• SalinitySalinity

• Dissolved GasesDissolved Gases

LightLight• Necessary for Necessary for

photosynthesisphotosynthesis

• Longer wavelengths Longer wavelengths travel deepertravel deeperWhy is the water blue?Why is the water blue?

• ZonesZones:: Photic zone, Photic zone, disphotic zone, disphotic zone, aphotic zoneaphotic zone

TemperatureTemperature• Affects metabolic ratesAffects metabolic rates

• EctothermsEctotherms: : “cold blooded”“cold blooded”

• EndothermsEndotherms: : constant internal constant internal temperaturetemperature

Dissolved NutrientsDissolved Nutrients

• Often provide upper limits to primary Often provide upper limits to primary productivityproductivity

• Nitrogen and sometimes phosphorus Nitrogen and sometimes phosphorus are the most important limiting are the most important limiting nutrientsnutrients

• Coastal areas are the most likely to Coastal areas are the most likely to have abundant nutrientshave abundant nutrients

SalinitySalinity

• Organisms are adapted to a Organisms are adapted to a particular range of salinitiesparticular range of salinities

• Changes in salinity can damage Changes in salinity can damage membranes, alter protein structure, membranes, alter protein structure, and affect the buoyancy of and affect the buoyancy of organismsorganisms

Dissolved GasesDissolved Gases

• Carbon Dioxide:Carbon Dioxide: abundant in ocean— abundant in ocean—seldom a limiting factorseldom a limiting factor

• Oxygen may be a limiting factor, Oxygen may be a limiting factor, particularly during nighttime hoursparticularly during nighttime hours

Primary ProductivityPrimary Productivity

• Binding of carbon into organic Binding of carbon into organic material through material through photosynthesisphotosynthesis or or chemosynthesischemosynthesis

• Phytoplankton: Phytoplankton: 90-96% of total90-96% of total

• Seaweeds: Seaweeds: 2-5%2-5%

• Chemosynthetic Organisms: Chemosynthetic Organisms: 2-5%2-5%

0 450 g C/m2/yr

Global Primary Global Primary ProductivityProductivity

Trophic (Feeding) Trophic (Feeding) RelationshipsRelationships• Three hundred trout are needed to Three hundred trout are needed to

support one man for a year. The trout, support one man for a year. The trout, in turn, must consume 90,000 frogs, in turn, must consume 90,000 frogs, that must consume 27 million that must consume 27 million grasshoppers that live off of 1,000 grasshoppers that live off of 1,000 tons of grass.tons of grass.- G. Tyler Miller, Jr., American Chemist (1971)- G. Tyler Miller, Jr., American Chemist (1971)

AutotrophsAutotrophs:: primary producers primary producers

Heterotrophs: Heterotrophs: consume other organismsconsume other organisms

Give a man a fish and you feed Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day… Teach him how him for a day… Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a to fish and you feed him for a lifetime!lifetime!

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• Are you aware?Are you aware?

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Zones in the OceanZones in the Ocean

Hadal Zone

Abyssal Zone

Bathyal Zone

Subtidal Zone

Littoral Zone

Considerations for life in the Considerations for life in the

pelagic zonepelagic zone • Maintaining vertical positionMaintaining vertical position

• Neritic ZoneNeritic Zone: nutrients tend to be more : nutrients tend to be more abundant, but pollution may be a abundant, but pollution may be a problemproblem

• Oceanic ZoneOceanic Zone: nutrients usually not as : nutrients usually not as abundant, leading to lower levels of abundant, leading to lower levels of primary productivity and requiring primary productivity and requiring consumers to travel longer distances in consumers to travel longer distances in search of foodsearch of food

Considerations for life in the Considerations for life in the benthic zonebenthic zone

• Littoral ZoneLittoral Zone: exposure to air : exposure to air (dessication)(dessication)

• Sublittoral Zone: Sublittoral Zone: strong waves & strong waves & currentscurrents

• Bathyal, Abyssal, Hadal ZonesBathyal, Abyssal, Hadal Zones: : darkness, lack of abundant food darkness, lack of abundant food sourcesource

The Pelagic CommunityThe Pelagic Community

Organisms live suspended in the water columnOrganisms live suspended in the water column2 Categories2 Categories::1)1) PlanktonPlankton: cannot swim at all, or not strongly : cannot swim at all, or not strongly

enough to move against waves and currentsenough to move against waves and currentsa)a) Meroplankton – plankton only part of life Meroplankton – plankton only part of life

(baby stage)(baby stage)b)b) Holoplankton – plankton entire lifeHoloplankton – plankton entire life

2)2) NektonNekton: swim actively: swim actively

Microbial Life in the Microbial Life in the OceanOcean

• BacteriaBacteria

• Phytoplankton – Plant-like protistsPhytoplankton – Plant-like protists– Unicellular algae, Diatoms and Unicellular algae, Diatoms and

DinoflagellatesDinoflagellates

• Zooplankton – Animal-like protistsZooplankton – Animal-like protists– Protozoans, Foraminiferans, Protozoans, Foraminiferans,

Radiolarians and CiliatesRadiolarians and Ciliates

• FungiFungi

BacteriaBacteria

• ““Regular” Bacteria – Domain of Regular” Bacteria – Domain of BacteriaBacteria– ProkaroyoticProkaroyotic– Decay and recycle nutrients Decay and recycle nutrients – Found everywhereFound everywhere– Cyanobacteria = “blue-green algae”. Cyanobacteria = “blue-green algae”. – Called “epiphytes” if live on seaweed.Called “epiphytes” if live on seaweed.

BacteriaBacteria

• ““Extreme” Bacteria – Domain of ArchaeExtreme” Bacteria – Domain of Archae– Live near hydrothermal vents 250F, sulfur Live near hydrothermal vents 250F, sulfur

springs, saline lakes, acid locations. springs, saline lakes, acid locations. – Extremophiles = “lover of extremes”Extremophiles = “lover of extremes”– Chemosynthesis not photosynthesisChemosynthesis not photosynthesis

Use Sulfate or Methane as energy source to Use Sulfate or Methane as energy source to make “food” for themselves since they are make “food” for themselves since they are autotrophs (self feeders)autotrophs (self feeders)

AutotrophsAutotrophs

• Make their own organic compounds Make their own organic compounds (food)(food)

• Primary Producer = phytoplanktonPrimary Producer = phytoplankton

• Photoautotrophic = use light for Photoautotrophic = use light for photosynthesis (usually green)photosynthesis (usually green)

• Chemoautotrophic = derive energy not Chemoautotrophic = derive energy not from light but from sulfur, nitrogen, from light but from sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, or iron compounds.hydrogen sulfide, or iron compounds.

HeterotrophsHeterotrophs

• Eat other things Eat other things

• Aerobic Respiration =getting Aerobic Respiration =getting energy out of food uses oxygenenergy out of food uses oxygen

• Anaerobic Respiration = energy Anaerobic Respiration = energy without oxygenwithout oxygen

• Many are nitrogen fixers = convert Many are nitrogen fixers = convert nitrogen gas into a form that nitrogen gas into a form that plants can use to grow.plants can use to grow.

Unicellular AlgaeUnicellular Algae

• Their own Kingdom = ProtistaTheir own Kingdom = Protista

• A very large group that are A very large group that are eukaryoticeukaryotic– nucleus and membrane enclosed nucleus and membrane enclosed

organelles.organelles.– no roots, stems, leaves.no roots, stems, leaves.

• Examples are diatoms, Examples are diatoms, Dinoflagellates, and protozoans.Dinoflagellates, and protozoans.

Seasonal Seasonal Phytoplankton BiomassPhytoplankton Biomass

Biomass

TropicalTemperatePolar

Types of PhytoplanktonTypes of Phytoplankton

•DiatomsDiatoms

White Cliffs of Dover, White Cliffs of Dover, EnglandEngland

Small Diatoms“Ginormous” Cliffs of Diatoms

DiatomsDiatoms

• Glassy 2 piece ornate shellGlassy 2 piece ornate shell

• Main primary producersMain primary producers

• 12,000 living species12,000 living species

• Can be toxic to fish and humans.Can be toxic to fish and humans.

• Dead shells pile = diatomaceous earth, Dead shells pile = diatomaceous earth, (used for temp./sound insulation and (used for temp./sound insulation and filtration or toothpaste)filtration or toothpaste)

shop for diatomaceous earth Diatomaceous cliffs in Marylandshop for diatomaceous earth Diatomaceous cliffs in Maryland

Types of PhytoplanktonTypes of Phytoplankton

•DinoflagellatesDinoflagellates

DinoflagellatesDinoflagellates

•A common plankton with two A common plankton with two flagella.flagella.

•1,200 species1,200 species

•May “bloom” to form red tides.May “bloom” to form red tides.

•Many are BIOLUMINSESCENT = glow Many are BIOLUMINSESCENT = glow in the dark ** Very cool **in the dark ** Very cool **

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN1Yxq8KMswv=EN1Yxq8KMsw

Types of PhytoplanktonTypes of Phytoplankton

•CoccolithophoresCoccolithophores

ZooplanktonZooplankton

•Main primary consumersMain primary consumers

•Graze on phytoplanktonGraze on phytoplankton

•Holoplankton = all life as Holoplankton = all life as plankton orplankton or

•Meroplankton = Meroplankton = part of life as part of life as planktonplankton

Types of ZooplanktonTypes of Zooplankton

•ForaminiferaForaminifera

Radiolarians

A planktonic ciliate

Other types of ZooplanktonOther types of Zooplankton

•Copepods: crustaceans that Copepods: crustaceans that account for 70% of this account for 70% of this groupgroup

Types of ZooplanktonTypes of Zooplankton

•JellyfishJellyfish

Nekton: VertebratesNekton: Vertebrates

• Cartilaginous fishCartilaginous fish

Sharks Rays

Nekton: VertebratesNekton: Vertebrates

•Bony fish: these include the Bony fish: these include the vast majority of familiar fish, vast majority of familiar fish, such as tuna and codsuch as tuna and cod

Nekton: VertebratesNekton: Vertebrates• Mammals (e.g. whales); birds (e.g. Mammals (e.g. whales); birds (e.g.

penguins); reptiles (e.g. sea penguins); reptiles (e.g. sea turtles)turtles)

Nekton: InvertebratesNekton: Invertebrates• Mollusks: Octopi, SquidMollusks: Octopi, Squid

Nekton: InvertebratesNekton: Invertebrates• Arthropods: shrimp, krill Arthropods: shrimp, krill

The Benthic CommunityThe Benthic Community

•Organisms that live on, or in, the Organisms that live on, or in, the ocean bottomocean bottom

•Sessile organismsSessile organisms: anchored to : anchored to the bottomthe bottom

•Motile organismsMotile organisms: can move freely: can move freely•BothBoth heterotrophs and autotrophs, heterotrophs and autotrophs,

such as seaweedssuch as seaweeds