Plankton Flashcards
What do PELAGIC and BENTHIC mean?
PELAGIC = the water column
BENTHIC = the substrate environment (mud, rocks, sand ect…)
What do NERITIC and OCEANIC mean? How are they classified?
NERITIC = the shallower environment above the drop-off of the continental shelf
OCEANIC = the deeper environment lying below the continental shelf
Classified by depth or amount of light (photosynthetic limitations)
What are PELAGIC ORGANISMS defined by?
Their capacity for movement
Define PLANKTON.
“Wanderers”
They cannot maintain position against currents
What are the differences between PHYTOPLANKTON and ZOOPLANKTON?
They are different sizes, ZOOPLANKTON are generally larger
PHYTOPLANKTON photosynthesize (plant-like) and ZOOPLANKTON consume other organisms (animal-like)
What are CYANOBACTERIA?
Phytoplankton, they were the first organisms known to produce O2 (very important)
Prokaryotic cell structure
Can fix N2 (turn into useful molecules)
Found as single cells, filaments or colonies
Food for small zooplankton but can be toxic
What are COCCOLITHOPHORIDS?
Phytoplankton with a eukaryotic cell structure but capable of photosynthesis (primary producers)
Have calcium carbonate coccoliths (scale-like features) which they suck CO2 out of the water to make
Natural carbon sink when they die
Forms chalky white blooms
What are DIATOMS?
Phytoplankton with a eukaryotic cell structure but capable of photosynthesis
Produce a silica ‘box’ out of two halves (frustules) around the cell
Found in coastal waters and are a food source for zooplankton
When they die they make diatomaceous earth (sedimentation) which we use for filtration of liquids and abrasives in toothpaste ect…
What are DINOFLAGELLATES?
Eukaryotic cell structure but capable of photosynthesis
Two flagella and some are armoured with cellulose plates
Mixotrophy: some phytoplankton, some zooplankton
What are MICROZOOPLANKTON?
Zooplankton (small metazoans and protozoa)
Important in food webs, feed mesozooplankton
What are FLAGELLATES and CILIATES?
FLAGELLATES= zooplankton with flagella
CILIATES= zooplankton with hair-like cilia for movement and feeding
What are LARVAL METAZOANS?
Planktonic larvae (abundant)
Prey on microzooplankton and phytoplankton
What are MESOZOOPLANKTON?
Animals e.g. copepods
Important grazers as they sieve the water
Important egesters (faeces) which takes carbon to the sea floor
Name the MACRO and MEGA ZOOPLANKTON.
Gelatinous zooplankton
Chaetognaths
Annelids
Molluscs
Larvae
Vertebrates
