1. Plankton

2. What are Plankton?
Organisms that exist adrift in the ocean, unable to swim against currents and waves.
Most (but not all) are very small. They include cyanobacteria, diatoms, dinoflagellates, various larvae, and jellyfish (which we will examine later).

3. Characteristics of all cells
Have selectively permeable membranes
Contain DNA as genetic material
Contain cytoplasm
Have Ribosomes

4. Two types of cells: contrast Prok’s and Euk’s
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes

5. Plankton: some examples of each
Eukaryotes include
Phytoplankton like Protists and Marine Plants
Zooplankton like Jellyfish, Meroplankton (larval animals), and Holoplankton (forever tiny ie:copepods)
Prokaryotes include
Cyanobacteria, also called Blue Green Algae
Thermophillic Bacteria in deep sea vents
Fecal Coliforms like E. coli

6. Phytoplankton Zooplankton

7. Who are the phytoplankton? Homework Part 1: 4-15 to 4-18
Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
Coccolithophores
Cyanobacteria

8. The attack of the killer algae Harmful algal blooms (HABs)

9. HAB’s Or “red tides”: but not always red, and not related to tides
Mostly from dinoflagellates, a few diatoms
Associated with high supply of nutrients
Toxins a byproduct of metabolism– neurotoxins, paralytic, diarrhetic, amnesic
Indirect poisoning thru food web:
People eat fish or shellfish that eat the Dinoflagellates

10. Homework Part 2
Visit the HAB’s website, then draw and describe the life cycle of a dinoflagellate
How do ocean currents affect these blooms?