PLANKTON

What is Plankton? Plankton comes from the Greek word “planktos”, which means to “wander” Animals and Plants that float, drift, or are weak swimmers

Groupings of Plankton: Zooplankton Animal, Heterotrophic Consumer Holoplankton, Meroplankton Ex: Copepod, Crab, Jelly Phytoplankton Plant, Autotrophic Primary Producer Produce 80% Oxygen supply Ex: Diatoms, Dinoflagellates

Groupings of Zooplankton: Holoplankton: zooplankton that spend their WHOLE lives as plankton Meroplankton: zooplankton that spend only part of their lives as plankton

Major groups of Phytoplankton DIATOMS DINOFLAGELLATES COCCOLITHOPHORES

Diatoms Microscopic; extremely abundant Important food source for marine organisms Single-cells, chain, loose “clusters” Oil droplets in cell - slow sinking Asterionella – a colony of pennate diatoms; photo by Jan Parmentier Centriclive diatom

Photo Credit: Dr. Neil Sullivan, University of Southern Calif. / National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration / Dept. of Commerce Diatoms (Division Chrysophyta)

Coscinodiscus

Chain Diatoms Diatomaceous Earth – silicaceous shells piled up over millions of years – used for Paint, Silver Polish, Filters, Insulation Photo by George Rowland

Dinoflagellates Microscopic Mostly unicellular Responsible for = red tides, bioluminescence Noctiluca = “night light” Noctiluca Bloom Photo Credit: PJS Franks (Photographer) / National Ocean Service Photo Gallery

Florida Red Tide Bloom of Karenia brevis In addition to adverse health effects, harmful algal blooms are responsible for the loss of millions of dollars from commercial and recreational fisheries and from tourist industries.

Florida Coastal Zone Scanner Image of Karenia brevis bloom in Nov 1978

Coccolithophores One-celled marine plants - live in large numbers, can make water appear milky or chalky Live near surface in brightly lit areas Calcareous ooze = White Cliffs of Dover Earthobservatory.nasa.gov/library/coccolithophores

Coccolithophores Scanning electron photography by Vita Pariente. Microscopy was done at the Electron Microscopy Center, Texas A&M University.

White Cliffs of Dover Photo Credit: Dover District Council

Major Groups of Zooplankton

Copepods Crustaceans Holoplankton; 95% of all ocean Zooplankton Most abundant animal – biggest biomass = insects of the sea Biggest source of Protein Contribute greatly to marine snow – fecal pellets Eat phytoplankton and zooplankton Photo by Jeannette Yen arinebio/pl_08.jpg

Foraminiferans Holoplankton Calcium Carbonate shell Calcareous ooze accumulates on ocean floor

Radiolarians Holoplankton Shell of Silica Siliceous ooze forms on seafloor in equatorial regions Photo credit: Oceanlink

Ctenophores: Comb Jellies - “Sea Snot” Holoplankton No stinging cells Bioluminescent

Krill

Photo Credit: OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP) Humpback Whales Feeding on Mostly Krill

Mola mola can reach 8 ft. in length Photo Credit: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration / Dept. of Commerce

MEROPLANKTON Zooplankton that spend only part of their lives as plankton Crabs * Spiny Lobsters Jellyfish * Sea Stars Snails * Barnacles Coral * Fish Bristleworms Brittle Star and Coral Larvae Goose Barnacles

Nauplius Barnacle Larvae and adult Barnacle Goose Barnacle Larvae and adults Clam larvae and adult

Flounder Larvae Octopus Larvae Mantis Shrimp Larvae Portuguese – Man – Of - War

Sea Star Larvae Zoea crab larvae Squidlings

Portunus rubromarginatus Zoea Crab Larva Photo Credit: Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland