1. Plankton-drifters Nekton- the swimmers Benthic- bottom dwellers
Life in the Ocean
Plankton-drifters
Nekton- the swimmers
Benthic- bottom dwellers

2. Nekton = swimmers

3. Benthic = bottom dwellers

4. Plankton = drifters

5. Plankton- organisms that are at the mercy of (drift with) the currents
Remember: Plankton
Plankton- organisms that are at the mercy of (drift with) the currents

6. Types of Plankton
There are different classification schemes used to categorize plankton
Plankton bloom during 1997 El Nino

7. Photosynthetic Ability
1)Phytoplankton- can photosynthesize
2) Zooplankton- do not photosynthesize

8. Phytoplankton
The photosynthetic organisms that are very important in oxygen production, more so than terrestrial plants. (They produce most of the oxygen we breath!)
Diatoms and dinoflagellates dominate the larger groups
Nanophytoplankton are the most important photosynthetic organisms in the oceans

9. Diatoms- the earth’s most abundant, successful, and efficient single-celled phytoplankton
Diatoms- they have two interlocking valves made primarily of silica, and these valves contribute to sediments.

10. Dinoflagellates – class of microscopic single celled flagellates (have whip like tail for propelling)

11. Red Tides
Algae are responsible for red tides

12. Nanoplankton (or picoplankton)- very small phytoplankton (many species are this kind)

13. Zooplankton- animal members of the plankton community
These are heterotrophs which means they do not produce their own food and rely on outside sources for nutrients
These graze on the diatoms and dinoflagellates
Shrimp like animals
(copepods) are the most
abundant

14. Foraminefera- planktonic amoeba like animals with a calcium based shell
Extend filaments to snare food

15. Life History
We can also characterize plankton depending on whether it spends its whole life as plankton or only part of its life.
Holoplankton-entire life span is within the plankton community
Most zooplankton are this type

16. b) Meroplankton- part of the life span is within the plankton community, often the larvae stage of the nekton and benthic organisms
Planktonic mantis shrimp larvae

17. Tube anenome

18. Larval spiny lobster

19. Manta ray feeding on plankton

20. Scientists developed a form of SCUBA diving called "blue-water diving" in order to observe plankton directly in the field.
A group of divers are attached to a small boat via a "down-line“, leaving them free to collect and observe without the danger of floating too far from the boat or sinking too deep