Plankton The Drifters
Dec 15, 2015
PlanktonPlankton
The DriftersThe Drifters
Two kinds of planktonTwo kinds of plankton
Phytoplankton (Producers) Photosynthesis (Autotrophs) 1/2 of world’s primary production and
oxygen Zooplankton (Consumers) Link to rest of food web Herbivores and carnivores
Phytoplankton (Producers) Photosynthesis (Autotrophs) 1/2 of world’s primary production and
oxygen Zooplankton (Consumers) Link to rest of food web Herbivores and carnivores
Where?Where?
Euphotic zone in neritic and oceanic waters Most abundant in temperate and subpolar
seas Why? Supplies food to organisms below
Euphotic zone in neritic and oceanic waters Most abundant in temperate and subpolar
seas Why? Supplies food to organisms below
3 Types of Phytoplankton3 Types of Phytoplankton
Diatoms Dinoflagellates Coccolithophorids
Diatoms Dinoflagellates Coccolithophorids
DiatomsDiatoms
DiatomsDiatoms
Most important primary producers in temperate and polar regions
With lots of nutrients and warm temp. get blooms in spring (rapid reproduction)
Most important primary producers in temperate and polar regions
With lots of nutrients and warm temp. get blooms in spring (rapid reproduction)
Diatoms-StructureDiatoms-Structure
Cells with a silica shell (glass) called frustule
2 halves like a petri dish with nucleus and chloroplasts inside
Cells with a silica shell (glass) called frustule
2 halves like a petri dish with nucleus and chloroplasts inside
Diatom ReproductionDiatom Reproduction
Cell division (Asexual)
Split and each half grows new shell
(Sometimes do sexual reproduction)
Cell division (Asexual)
Split and each half grows new shell
(Sometimes do sexual reproduction)
Dead DiatomsDead Diatoms
Sink and make sand! 6 millions pounds
refined everyday from beaches
Used in paints, extend life of tires and shoes
Toothpaste,kitty litter
Sink and make sand! 6 millions pounds
refined everyday from beaches
Used in paints, extend life of tires and shoes
Toothpaste,kitty litter
Diatoms Can’t Swim!Diatoms Can’t Swim!
To stay afloat: Increase surface area and drag
(Be flat, Long spines, or form chains)
Store lipids (oil) to be less dense than water
To stay afloat: Increase surface area and drag
(Be flat, Long spines, or form chains)
Store lipids (oil) to be less dense than water
DinoflagellatesDinoflagellates
Prefer warmer waters Can swim up and down in water column
Prefer warmer waters Can swim up and down in water column
Dinoflagellate- StructureDinoflagellate- Structure
2 unequal flagella One wrapped around
middle (belt) One for movement
Cell wall with plates of cellulose
2 unequal flagella One wrapped around
middle (belt) One for movement
Cell wall with plates of cellulose
Dinoflagellates ReproductionDinoflagellates Reproduction
Cell Division, very rarely sexual reproduction
Cell Division, very rarely sexual reproduction
Dinoflagellates- Red TideDinoflagellates- Red Tide
Dinoflagellates Red TideDinoflagellates Red Tide
Massive blooms (thousand cells in one drop of water!)
Water turns orange or red-brown Produce poisons Kills fish, stored in mussels and clam tissue Eat clams get Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Massive blooms (thousand cells in one drop of water!)
Water turns orange or red-brown Produce poisons Kills fish, stored in mussels and clam tissue Eat clams get Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Dinoflagellates BioluminescenceDinoflagellates Bioluminescence
Dinoflagellates BioluminescenceDinoflagellates Bioluminescence
Produce light Bright if disturbed by boat or wave crashing
Produce light Bright if disturbed by boat or wave crashing
CoccolithophoridsCoccolithophorids
Oceanic (not neritic) Prefer warm water
Oceanic (not neritic) Prefer warm water
Coccolithophorid “Round stone bearers”
Coccolithophorid “Round stone bearers”
Coccolithophorid BloomCoccolithophorid Bloom
Coccolithophorid StructureCoccolithophorid Structure
Flagellates Spherical, covered with button-like
stuctures called coccoliths made of calcium carbonate
Flagellates Spherical, covered with button-like
stuctures called coccoliths made of calcium carbonate
Dead coccolithophoridsDead coccolithophorids
Settle to ocean floor Thick deposits of Chalk!
White cliffs of Dover in Southern England
Settle to ocean floor Thick deposits of Chalk!
White cliffs of Dover in Southern England
White Cliffs of DoverWhite Cliffs of Dover
ZooplanktonZooplankton
Eat ?? Link to rest of food chain
Eat ?? Link to rest of food chain
Zooplankton - CrustaceansZooplankton - Crustaceans
Arthropods (exoskeleton, jointed appendages
Shrimps, Crabs, Lobsters
Arthropods (exoskeleton, jointed appendages
Shrimps, Crabs, Lobsters
Crustaceans - CopepodsCrustaceans - Copepods
Crustaceans - CopepodsCrustaceans - Copepods
Most abundant zooplankton
Use mouthparts to draw in water with food (phyto- and zooplankton -other copepods too)
Use 1st pair of antennae to swim
Most abundant zooplankton
Use mouthparts to draw in water with food (phyto- and zooplankton -other copepods too)
Use 1st pair of antennae to swim
Crustaceans - KrillCrustaceans - Krill
Shrimp-like, up to 6 cm long
Prefer cold oceanic water
Filter feeders - eat phytos, fecal pellets, other zooplankton
Favorite food: Diatoms
Shrimp-like, up to 6 cm long
Prefer cold oceanic water
Filter feeders - eat phytos, fecal pellets, other zooplankton
Favorite food: Diatoms
KrillKrill
Crustacean - LarvaeCrustacean - Larvae
Crabs, shrimp, barnacles, lobsters Temporary zooplankton
Crabs, shrimp, barnacles, lobsters Temporary zooplankton
Crustaceans - AmphipodsCrustaceans - Amphipods
Small, like copepods Small, like copepods
ArrowwormArrowworm
Eat prey as large or larger than themselves
Eat copepods
Eat prey as large or larger than themselves
Eat copepods
Jellyfish and CombjelliesJellyfish and Combjellies
Weak swimmers Can be large and drift with currents Eat small fish and zooplankton
Weak swimmers Can be large and drift with currents Eat small fish and zooplankton