Phytoplankton Flashcards
What is the estimated number of phytoplankton species globally?
10,000 to 100,000 species
This number is significantly higher than the approximately 100 species of whales.
What percentage of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by phytoplankton?
More than 50%
Phytoplankton play a crucial role in global oxygen production.
How do phytoplankton contribute to the food chain?
By converting CO2 into organic carbon
This process forms the base of the food chain.
What is functional diversity in phytoplankton?
Variety in traits such as photosynthetic rates, temperature preferences, salinity tolerance, and toxin production.
What is taxonomic diversity in phytoplankton?
Diversity of species or operational taxonomic units (OTUs).
Name a functional group of phytoplankton characterized by chlorophyll.
Green algae (Chlorophytes)
They are the ancestors of land plants and mostly found in freshwater.
What role do diatoms play in the oceans?
They are crucial primary producers responsible for about 20% of global CO2 fixation.
What are cyanobacteria known for?
Forming massive blooms and nitrogen fixation.
True or False: Dinoflagellates are exclusively autotrophic.
False
They are mixotrophic (phagotrophic) and can form massive blooms.
What are coccolithophores characterized by?
Chalk/lime shells (CaCO3)
They are marine-dwelling and similar to diatoms under a light microscope.
What is species richness?
The number of different species represented in a community.
What does evenness refer to in ecological studies?
The relative abundance of different species within a community.
What method is used to assign species based on morphology?
Microscopy
This method allows for direct observation but is time-consuming.
What role does phenotypic plasticity play in phytoplankton?
Allows phytoplankton to change traits to adapt to their environment without genetic changes.
How do phytoplankton contribute to the marine carbon cycle?
By fixing CO2 through photosynthesis and forming the base of the food web.
What impact does climate change have on phytoplankton?
It can alter their distribution and affect the overall food chain.
Fill in the blank: Phytoplankton diversity is linked to _______.
Ecosystem stability.
What are the two main factors influencing phytoplankton diversity?
- Evolutionary adaptability
- Environmental variability
What is the significance of higher diversity within phytoplankton communities?
Increases the likelihood of having species that can tolerate specific conditions.
What are the advantages of modern lab methods for studying phytoplankton?
They provide more accurate results but may be expensive.
