Autotrophs

Algae and plants in ecosystems

“Are blue-green algae phytoplankton?”Phylogenetic Functional

Functional:Plankton- freely floating , carried along bycurrents. Can be motile

e.g. Rooted aquatic plants are not planktonic

Microscopic algae can be planktonic, thosethat are comprise the PHYTOPLANKTON.Phytoplankton are important in reservoirsand in water column of large rivers.

Periphyton- Microscopic algae growing onsubstrate (solid surface)Epiphytes- microscopic algae growing onmacrophytes.Macrophytes- vascular (rooted) plants,mosses, liverworts, large colonial algal forms.Epilithon- layer of algae, bacteria, andmucilage covering substrate (rock surface).

KINGDOM- PHYLA- CLASS- ORDER

Procaryotes (bacteria)-Blue-green algae:a.k.a. cyanobacteria, cyanophytes

Eucaryotes (with organelles)Planktonic and benthic phyla:Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae)Green algae

a.k.a. chlorophytes, chlorophyceaeexample: Euglena sp.

Planktonic phyla:Chrysophytes, Dinoflagellates, Cryptophytes

Diatoms- have silica frustules

Patterns of valves:Planktonic- centric (radial)Benthic- Trellisoid (Eunotia)Gonoid (angular)Pennate (around center line)

Pennate diatoms have a RAPHE orPSEUDORAPHE:with raphe diatoms move by gliding on a mucilage trailTerms: Epitheca, Hypotheca, Valve, Connecting Band

SEM of valve of Pennate Diatom

                                                                                           

              

Asterionela formosa - pennate planktonic chain forming diatom (Common Weed Spp)

                                                                                                         

Didymosphenia from Deer Creek - Benthic diatom from alpine Stream in Colorado

                                                                                                         

Pennate Diatom

                                                                                           

              

Common marine pennate Diatom - Chaetocerous sp

                                                                                           

              

(On the Right)Common marine pennate Diatom - Chaetocerous sp (on the left is a centric diatom)

                                                                                                         

Small Benthic diatom - Nitzschia palea

                                                                                           

              

Colonial chlorophyte (planktonic)- Pediastrum spp.

                                                                                           

              

Colonial chlorophyte (planktonic)

                                                                                           

              

Colonial chlorophyte (planktonic)

                                                                                           

              

Anabeana floa-aquae(planktonic)

                                                                                           

              

Anabeana colony - with heterotrophic ciliates(clear) attached to the colony.

                                                                                                       

  

Anabeana colony - closeup

                                                                                           

              

Anabeana cylindrica - with heterocysts (N2 fixation occurs in specialized cells)

                                                                                                         

Anabeana cylindrica - with akinetes(resting cells). Could be planktonic or benthic

                                                                                                         

Common benthic filamentous cyanobacteria Nostoc nuscorum - filaments packed in mucilage - occurs attached to rocks in flaps

                                                                                                         

Common benthic filamentous cyanobacteria Nostoc nuscorum - closeup

                                                                                           

              

Freshwater dinoflagellate - planktonic Ceratium hirunindella

                                                                                           

              

Freshwater dinoflagellate - planktonic Ceratium hirunindella

                                                                                           

              

Freshwater dinoflagellate - Gonyalax spp

                                                                                           

              

Stained dinoflagellate