Phytoplankton

Question 1

what is phytoplankton’s biomass versus their photosynthetic production percentage

Answer 1

1% of total biomass, 50% of global photosynthetic production

Question 2

how can we classify phytoplankton?

Answer 2

taxonomically
functionally based on ecological roles
size

Question 3

what are the two major groups of phytoplankton?

Answer 3

eukaryotic (photosynthetic protists)
prokaryotic (photosynthetic bacteria)

Question 4

which phytoplankton are eukaryotic

Answer 4

diatoms, dinoflagellates, coccolithophores, phaeocystis

Question 5

what phytoplankton are prokaryotic?

Answer 5

synechococcus, prochlorococcus, trichodesmium

Question 6

what different colours of algae can we identify

Answer 6

green (chlorophyta)
brown (chromophyta)
red (rhodophyta)
all that we discuss are brown

Question 7

autotrophic definition

Answer 7

organism that creates its own energy, primary produce

Question 8

heterotrophic definition

Answer 8

secondary producers that seeks their energy from other sources (zooplankton)

Question 9

mixotrophic definition

Answer 9

organisms that are autotrophic and heterotrophic

Question 10

what is the range of sizes for phytoplankton

Answer 10

less than to micrometers to 200 micrometers

Question 11

which phytoplankton are the high resource requirement type?

Answer 11

diatoms

Question 12

which phytoplankton are the resource efficient group?

Answer 12

cyanobacteria

Question 13

how does resource efficiency affect when in the spring season a phytoplankton will appear?

Answer 13

high resource requirement ones show early in the season, once nutrients diminish more resource efficient phytoplankton show up

Question 14

how do diatoms present themselves

Answer 14

principally solitary cells, also in large chains

Question 15

what is the glass covering on diatoms called?

Answer 15

siliceous cell
frustule

Question 16

how much of a diatoms weight does the frustule take up?

Answer 16

4%-50%

Question 17

what kind of symmetry does a centric diatom have?

Answer 17

radial symmetry

Question 18

what kind of symmetry does a pennate diatom have?

Answer 18

bilateral symmetry

Question 19

effects of having a frustule:

Answer 19

diatoms need silicate in their environment
increases their density therefore sink faster

Question 20

what are diatoms roles in the biological pump?

Answer 20

promote sinking of organic carbon to the sediments where it will be buried and stored

Question 21

what is the role of the huge vacuole found in diatoms?

Answer 21

exploit presence of high nutrients to store for later, allow cell divisions in low nutrient environments

Question 22

what is the toxic acid found in some diatoms?

Answer 22

domoic acid
neurotoxin

Question 23

what is an example of a diatom with domoic acid?

Answer 23

Pseudo-nitzschia

Question 24

where are diatoms mostly found?

Answer 24

temperate high latitudes
high nutrient areas

Question 25

what is the cellulose wall on some Dinoflagellates called?

Answer 25

Theca

Question 26

what kind of nutritional modes to dinoflagellates use

Answer 26

all three, most are mixotrophs

Question 27

what is the feeding process of dinoflagellates called?

Answer 27

phagocytosis

Question 28

how do dinoflagellates reroduce?

Answer 28

mostly asexually

Question 29

what is the function of "cysts" for dinoflagellates

Answer 29

created during periods of stress, can remain dormant until they are triggered and reintroduced genetic material

Question 30

what allows dinoflagellates to be more mobile?

Answer 30

flagella (tail)

Question 31

what is the name of the enzyme that causes bioluminescence in dinoflagellates

Answer 31

luciferase

Question 32

what are HABs?

Answer 32

harmful algae blooms toxic algae bloom associated with poisonous compounds

Question 33

what causes a red tide?

Answer 33

HABs

Question 34

what diseases can HABs cause

Answer 34

Diarrheic/Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP, PSP)

Question 35

what toxin causes PSP?

Answer 35

saxitoxin

Question 36

how does saxitoxin work?

Answer 36

sodium channel inhibitor in nerve cells

Question 37

example of a symbiotic relationship involving dinoflagellates

Answer 37

dinoflagellates and corals receive nutrients, exchange photo energy

Question 38

what regions are dinoflagellates found in?

Answer 38

tropical/subtropical waters low nutrient concentrations in same areas as diatoms after the diatom blooms

Question 39

what does a dinoflagellate do in the day time versus the night time?

Answer 39

day; photosynthesis at the surface night: take up nutrients at deeper ocean

Question 40

what kind of species are considered haptophytes?

Answer 40

coccolithphorids phaeocystis isochrysis prymnesium

Question 41

what are coccoliths covered in?

Answer 41

calcareous plates (calcium carbonate)

Question 42

where are coccoliths generally found?

Answer 42

globally

Question 43

what is the calcification equation for coccoliths?

Answer 43

calcium + bicarbonate -> calcium carbonate + water + CO2

Question 44

why are coccoliths visible from space?

Answer 44

their liths scatter light

Question 45

how do coccoliths perform calcification

Answer 45

vesicle in the cell concentrates calcium and bicarbonate to favour CaCO3 formation

Question 46

how does calcification benefit phytoplankton

Answer 46

increases CO2 concentration for photosynthesis

Question 47

why do coccoliths sink to the ocean floor?

Answer 47

calcium carbonate is denser than seawater

Question 48

how do coccoliths affect the global carbon cycle?

Answer 48

photosynthesis on biological carbon pump carbonate counter pump while creating cell wall

Question 49

where are phaeocystis usually found

Answer 49

open and coastal ocean high latitudes

Question 50

what causes phaeocystis' mucus texure

Answer 50

carbohydrate rich polymers surrounding it

Question 51

what is DMSP

Answer 51

dimethyl sulphonium propionate

Question 52

what species produces high levels of DMSP

Answer 52

phaeocystis

Question 53

what happens to DMSP in seawater

Answer 53

degrades to DMS (dimethyl sulphide) oxidizes to sulfate aerosols acts as cloud condensation nuclei

Question 54

what does cloud formation because of DMS cause?

Answer 54

promotes cooling because of cloud energy reflectance influences acidity of rain

Question 55

what kind of haptophyte is phaeocystis?

Answer 55

naked, no CaCO3 shell

Question 56

what is a consequence of phaeocystis' stickyness

Answer 56

promotes aggregation of things, sinks easily

Question 57

where are cyanobacteria most abundant?

Answer 57

low nutrient, low biomass waters

Question 58

what is the most abundant phytoplankton?

Answer 58

cyanobacteria

Question 59

what are the major groups of cyanobacteria?

Answer 59

synechococcus prochlorococcus trichodesmium

Question 60

what are the characteristics of cyanobacteria

Answer 60

unicellular filamentous/colony forming

Question 61

what phytoplankton is responsible for oxygenating the atmsphere?

Answer 61

cyanobacteria

Question 62

where are trichodesmium found?

Answer 62

above 25 degrees celsius water (tropical and subtropical)

Question 63

why do trichodesmium need to be in nitrate poor regions?

Answer 63

to favour N-fixing reaction

Question 64

what are the requirements for N-fixing

Answer 64

low O2 low NH4 ATP 1 atm pressure 20 degrees celsius

Question 65

what enzyme fixes nitrogen

Answer 65

nitrogenase (contains iron)

Question 66

what phytoplankton can fic nitrogen?

Answer 66

richelia symbiot in diatoms synechococcus, crocosphaera

Question 67

which is the oldest photosynthetic organism?

Answer 67

synechococcus

Question 68

which is the smallest phytoplankton

Answer 68

prochlorococcus

Question 69

is Pro or Syn more abundant?

Answer 69

prochlorococcus

Question 70

does Pro or Syn inhabit a wider range of ocean?

Answer 70

synechococcus

Question 71

does Pro or Syn inhabit a deeper range of ocean?

Answer 71

prochlorococcus