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Planktonic Organisms

Planktonic Organisms. Introduction. Plankton = Organisms that drift in the water Cannot move against the current Characterized by size: Pico-, nano -, micro-, macro- and mega-plankton Most abundant type of life on earth Basis of the marine food web. Types of plankton.

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Planktonic Organisms

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  1. Planktonic Organisms

  2. Introduction • Plankton = Organisms that drift in the water • Cannot move against the current • Characterized by size: • Pico-, nano-, micro-, macro- and mega-plankton • Most abundant type of life on earth • Basis of the marine food web

  3. Types of plankton • “Plankton” describes a lifestyle, not an ancestral relationship or evolutionary connection • The inability to swim is the only feature common to all plankton. • Organisms may be: • Photosynthetic(phytoplankton) • Chemosynthetic(bacteria) • Heterotrophic(zooplankton)

  4. Phytoplankton • Drift within the photic zone • Provide 40% of the food made by photosynthesis on Earth • Main kinds: • Diatoms (Radiolaria) • Dinoflagellates (symbiotic) • Cyanophytes/Cyanobacteria • Archaebacteria • Coccolithophores • Picoplankton

  5. Zooplankton • “Animal” plankton • Nearly every major animal group is represented • Heterotrophs • Most numerous consumers in the ocean • Graze on phytoplankton • Two types: • Holoplankton • Meroplankton Octopus larva Octopus adult

  6. Zooplankton Examples Scale worm larva Terebellid worm larva Burrowing Anemone larva Copepod Candacia Mantis shrimp larva

  7. Holoplankton • Organism that spends its entire life as plankton • Examples: krill, copepods, some sea snails & slugs, jellyfish and some marine worms. Rhizostome jellyfish Sea Butterfly, Pteropod Planktonic Polychaete worm

  8. Meroplankton • Organism that only spends the larval stages as plankton • Examples: sea urchins, starfish, sea squirts, crustaceans, octopus, marine worms, and most reef fishes. Starfish adult Anemone larva Starfish larva Anemone adult

  9. Crustaceans • Most abundant kind of meroplankton • Examples: lobsters, crabs, prawns, pill bugs, krill, barnacles, water fleas, and brine shrimp (sea monkeys) Mantis Shrimp Lobster Metamorphosis Larva Larva Juvenile Juvenile Adult Adult

  10. Staying Afloat • Buoyancy = ability to stay afloat • Swim bladder • Store lipids • Increase surface area/water resistance • Flat shape • Form chains • Projections or spines

  11. Bioluminescence • Light produced by some organisms • Dinoflagellates • May be produced by symbiotic bacteria or enzymes • Uses: • communication • luring prey • Camouflage • Escaping from predators • Blue, green, or red • Brightness can be controlled, base on surroundings

  12. Video Notes: Deep Ocean Number your paper from 1-20 Write down 20 facts/examples from the video.

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