Primary Producers of the Marine Environment; Opener Primary Producers of the Marine Environment; The Microbial World

Microorganisms are the most important primary producers in many marine environments. Provide nutrients for other microorganisms Play critical roles in the marine food web Prokaryotes Cyanobacteria (blue – green algae)

Mounds deposited by cyanobacteria made up of calcium Fig. 5.4 Mounds deposited by cyanobacteria made up of calcium

Symbiotic bacteria reside in marine animals Symbiotic bacteria reside in marine animals. Some of these bacteria are toxic to humans and other predators to these organisms.

Archaea Simplest, most primitive, and closely related to eukaryotes

Unicellular Algae Very diverse group of simple, mostly aquatic, photosynthetic organisms Protists Lack specialized tissues Range in size

Diatoms Reproduce via asexual reproduction Plankton, silica shell, cold open-water Skeletons settle to the bottom of the sea floor Create diatomaceous ooze.

Diatomaceous earth has been mined used in products such as filters for swimming pools, temperature and sound insulators, and mild abrasives for toothpaste. Domoic Acid

Dinoflagellates Unicellular organisms w/2 unequal flagella Bioluminescence Zooxanthellae symbiotic with coral reefs

Fig. 5.8 Dinoflagellate with cell wall. This species is bioluminescent and produces red tides.

Pl Fig. 5.10 Phytoplankton made of calcium carbonate or silica and are photosynthetic

Protozoans: Animal – Like Protist

Foraminiferans

Radiolarians Demonstrating features for capturing food prey and remaining buoyant. Shells are made primarily of silica, cover ocean floor.

Fungi

Fig. 5.14