The Microbial World Those of you that went on the field trip saw many of these under the microscope after you caught them in the plankton nets.

Unicellular Organisms Unicellular organism are one celled living things. Algae are one celled organisms that contain chlorophyll, and live on or near the surface. Algae produce most of the O2 that we breathe. Algae are microscopic and can not be seen by the naked eye. The most common forms of Algae are: Diatoms- make their own food (photosynthesis) Dinoflagellates- can both make their own food and get food from other sources

Microorganisms Most abundant organism in the ocean Live in all areas of the ocean Are very small Are the foundation of all life Transform nutrients into organic material (primary production), or organic material into nutrients (decomposition)

Viruses Non-living and living features Does not contain a cell, but does contain genetic material Very small Parasitic, and can reproduce by injecting genetic material into a cell. Can infect bacteria, phytoplankton and other marine life. Releases Dissolved Organic Material (DOM) which is then used by larger organisms.

Marine Viruses

Prokaryotes Simplest organism Oldest form of life on Earth Made up of a cell (or cells) Have a cell wall Lack nucleus and membrane-bound organelles Photosynthesize (organic material created from light) or Chemosynthesize (created from chemicals)

Prokaryote 2 domains Domain Bacteria Domain Archaea

Bacteria The chemistry of the cell walls make them rigid and strong. The cells are much smaller than a eukaryotic cell Found in large numbers in detritus. Decay bacteria break down waste products and dead organic material and release nutrients back into the environment. Bacteria can spoil seafood, or cause illness. Can have a stiff or sticky cell wall for protection. 250,000, on average, can fit on the end of a pin. When they are in clumps or strands, they can be seen. Some bacteria is used to break down oil.

Cyanobacteria Cyano means blue.

Cyanobacterial bloom Cyanobacterial blooms, which occur in fresh and marine waters, are bad news. They negatively affect water quality; can be toxic to animals, including humans, that swim in or drink contaminated water; and can lead to substantial economic losses due to water treatment costs, declining property values, and lost tourism and recreational revenues. Cyanobacterial blooms are part of a mix of toxic phytoplankton that create dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico each summer, for example.

Archaea Once thought to be the same as bacteria, but evidence shows they are more similar to eukaryotes than to bacteria. Often named Archaeabacteria because they originally were named bacteria.

Chemosynthetic Archaea EXTREMOPHILES * No photosynthetic producers can survive in the abyss. * Food chain starts with the chemosynthesizing prokaryotes. * Most use hydrogen sulfide to produce energy * Some snails eat these bacteria. * Tube worms get their energy directly from thermophilic bacterium living inside the worm (symbiotic relationship) Some archaea are thermophiles (heat loving); they don’t just like it hot, some require it really hot. Many thermophiles live in near undersea hydrothermal vents, where heat from the Earth’s mantle and core escapes into the ocean; basically ocean volcanoes. The hydrothermal vent is an ecosystem that one would be hard pressed to call home. Varies from 700˚C to 4˚C, it is acidic, toxic, and radioactive. Yet many unique prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms live nowhere else.

Unicellular Algae Eukarotic Photosynthesize Color is determined by type and concentration of pigments. Lack flowers, leaves, stems and roots Kingdom Protista Were once classified as plants because they photosynthesize, but are now called protists because some have animal like properties (swimming and eating).

Diatoms Diatom frustules - shells - seen under a polarizing light microscope. Diatoms may be responsible for half of all phytoplankton productivity. http://climatide.wgbh.org/2011/01/ocean-acidification-may-limit-phytoplankton/

Diatoms Unicellular but sometimes form long chains. Enclosed by cell walls made of silica (glass-like material) – called the frustule. Frustule – allows light, nutrients, and gases to pass through. ***IMPORTANT primary producers, and are responsible for the very productive marine life in polar regions.

Diatoms (cont’d) Most reproduce asexually (fission) Dead diatom frustules sink to the sea floor This type of biogenous sediment is called diatomaceous ooze, or siliceous ooze. This “ooze” is mined and used in many products. http://youtu.be/0z-zBy3UQQE (to 1 min) http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html http://naturalnews.com/030688_Diatomaceous_earth_health.html#

Dinoflagellates

Dinoflagellates Possess 2 flagella One flagella wrapped around middle groove One flagella trailing free Most dinoflagellates are beneficial, primary producers and may form symbiotic relationships. Dinoflagellate means “terrible” “flagellated” organism; some dinoflagellates are harmful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl0I-LKTm-s (1:10 – 1:30) A number of photosynthetic dinoflagellates inhabit sponges, corals, jellyfish, and flatworms. The association is symbiotic. The host provides a protective environment and the growth of the dinoflagellates impart nutritive carbohydrates to the host.

Dinoflagellates - Ciguatera People who have ciguatera may experience nausea, vomiting, and neurologic symptoms such as tingling fingers or toes. They also may find that cold things feel hot and hot things feel cold. Ciguatera fish poisoning (or ciguatera) is an illness caused by eating fish that contain toxins produced by a marine microalgae, a dinoflagellate, called Gambierdiscus toxicus. Symptoms - nausea, vomiting, and neurologic symptoms such as tingling fingers or toes; cold things feel hot and hot things feel cold. Ciguatera has no cure. http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/2014/07/17/teens-ciguatera-fish-poisoning/12794567/

Dinoflagellates – Red Tide Kerenia brevis - Harmful algal blooms (HABs) *occur when colonies of algae grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals and birds. occurs nearly every summer along Florida’s Gulf Coast But not all algal blooms are harmful. Most blooms, in fact, are beneficial because the tiny plants are food for animals in the ocean. In fact, they are the major source of energy that fuels the ocean food web. HABs also include blooms of non-toxic species that have harmful effects on marine ecosystems. For example, when masses of algae die and decompose, the decaying process can deplete oxygen in the water, causing the water to become so low in oxygen that animals either leave the area or die.

Protozoan - Foraminiferans Have a test (shell) made of calcium carbonate. Chambers that grow in size Pseudopodia (extension of cytplasm) to capture food Mostly benthic Heavy concentrations on ocean floor create foraminiferan ooze White cliffs of Dover in England Affected by ocean acidification

Protozoans – “animal-like” protists All ingest food (heterotrophic)Easily collected from sediments, surface of seaweeds, the guts of animals, and plankton samples Some also photosynthesize Easily collected from sediments, surface of seaweeds, the guts of animals, and plankton samples.

Protozoan - Radiolarians Secrete a glass-like spherical shell in a spherical shape. Use spine-like psuedopodia to capture food. Can form chains reaching over 9 feet.

Protozoan - Ciliates Many hair like cilia used for locomotion and feeding. Paramecium is most commonly known. Important in open-water food chains.

FUNGI Mostly eukaryotic Often multi-cellular Heterotrophs Get nutrients by decompose detritus Most important in recycling nutrients from dropped mangrove leaves