Phytoplankton

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Phytoplankton

• The Microscopic Drifting Primary Producers of the
  Ocean

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4 Categories of Phytoplankton

• Picoplankton - lt than 2 micrometers
• Ultraplankton 2-5 micrometers
• Nannoplankton 5-20 micrometers
• Microplankton 20 200 micrometers
• -Remember that 1,000,000 micrometers is equal
  to one meter.
• -Nannoplankton are the size of most plankton
  in the oceans

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Cyanobacteria
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Cyanobacteria Characteristics

• Photosynthetic bacteria that use chlorophyll and
  release oxygen.
• Very smallmost are picoplankton or
  ultraplankton.
• Found in intertidal and estuarine environments.
• Some can bloom in warm waterThe red pigment from
  Oscillatoria is why the Red Sea is called red.
• Not visible unless clumped together to form
  microbial mats, which can form stromatolites.

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Oscillatoria and the Red Sea
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Stromatolites and Microbial Mats
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Division Chrysophyta

• Single celled eukaryotes.
• Members of the Protist Kingdom.
• Many different colored pigments found
• Includes the golden-brown algae,
  coccolithophores, and the diatoms.

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Coccolithophores

• Unicellular with many calcareous plates
  (coccoliths) embedded in their cell wall

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Diatoms
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Diatom Characteristics

• The most abundant members of the phytoplankton.
• Usually unicellular but can form chains.
• Cell size between 15 micrometers and 1
  millimeter.
• Cell wall (frustule) mostly made up of silica.
• Can be found at any level in the ocean that light
  can reach.

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Division Dinophyta

• Most are photosynthetic and are most commonly
  found in warm oceans.
• Unicellular, large nucleus, 2 flagella and most
  between 25 and 1000 micrometers.
• Blooms are common.
• Some are bioluminescent.

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Dinophytes
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Bioluminescent Dinophytes
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Red Tides

• Caused by blooms of dinophytescan produce
  toxins, killing fish and other vertebrates

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Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

• Blooms of Alexandrium can release saxitoxins
  which are taken up by butter clams.
• People eating these clams will become paralyzed
  and die to asphyxiation.

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Reviewthe Needs of Phytoplankton

• Phytoplankton need nutrients and light for
  success.
• Nutrients must be widely dispersed in order to
  support life
• Restricted to the photic zoneWhy?

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Adaptations for Phytoplankton Success

• SIZE Small is better! The smaller the cell is
  the easier diffusion takes place.
• Delay Sinking Due to heavy cell walls,
  phytoplankton tend to sink away from the light
  they need. Why would floating not be a good
  adaptation? If the rate at which they sink is
  decreased there is a chance they may get pushed
  back to surface (upwelling).

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Decreasing the Sinking Rate

• Increase friction with horns, wings, and other
  cellular projections.
• Zig Zag or spiral down the water column.
• Some have gas filled floats.

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Adjustments to Poor Environmental Conditions

• Protection from grazers spines and horns,
  clumping together, and releasing toxins.
• Lack of Sunlight using stored energy or
  entering an inactive stage called a cyst.

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Phytoplankton
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The End
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Red Tides

• Blooms of dinophytes can produce toxins killing
  fish and other vertebrates.

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Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

• When Alexandrium blooms it releases a toxin
  (saxitoxin) that accumulates in butter clams.
• People eating these clams suffer nerve damage and
  death occurs due to asphyxiation or respiratory
  paralysis.