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