CHAP 5 AND 6

THE STAR MEANS INFO. YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Marine Microbial World and Multicellular Primary

Producers

Classification: The Three Domains

Domain Archaea– Includes newly discovered cell types – Contains 1 kingdom – the Archaebacteria

Domain Bacteria– Includes other members of old kingdom Monera – Has 1 kingdom – the Eubacteria

Domain Eukarya– Includes all kingdoms composed of organisms made up of eukaryotic cells

– Protista (debated/changing) – Fungi – Animalia – Plantae

Prokaryotes:-No Nucleus

Eukaryotes:DNA in nucleus

Kingdoms are divided into groups called phyla Phyla are subdivided into classes

Classes are subdivided into orders

Orders are subdivided into families

Families are divided into genera Genus contain closely related species

Species is unique

Categories within Kingdoms

Marine Microbes and Primary Producers

Prokaryotes Bacteria Archae

Unicellular Algae Diatoms Dinoflagellates

Protozoans Formaniferans Radiolarians Ciliates

Fungi

Multicellular Algae Red-Rhodophyta Green-Chlorophyta Brown-Phaeophyta

Flowering Plants True Plants

Seagrass Salt Tolerant

Mangroves Salt marsh grass

Prokaryotes = “before nucleus”

2 Domains, 1 Kingdom each: Bacteria and Archaea (more closely related to

Eukaryotes)Simplest and oldest life formsCell wall, cell membranesNo membrane bound organellesDNA not in a nucleusGreat metabolic diversity

Prokaryotes: Life Processes

Various ways to obtain energy Autotrophs –

“Self feeders” Use light or chemicals to create own energy

Photosynthesis (light) or Chemosynthesis (chemicals) Light, Hydrogen Sulfide, Ammonium, Nitrate, Iron, etc.

Heterotrophs – Cannot make their own food/energy must eat/ingest to get their food/energy

Prokaryotes: Life Processes

Various ways to break down and release this energy =Respiration

Aerobic Organic matter broken down using oxygen to release

energyAnaerobic

Organic matter broken down in the absence of oxygen

Bacteria

Most abundant form of life on earth!

Ensure the recycling of nutrients in detritis (VERY important!)

Live in open water and sea floor, everywhere

Accumulate on the ocean floor Large masses=marine

snow

Bacteria reproduction

Bacteria reproduces by a process called binary fission.

Binary Fission is where the bacterial cell divides into 2 cells that look the same as the original cell. Can reproduce

every 20 minutes.

Ecosystem Significance Human Impact

Break down organic material into nutrients for other organisms to use

Cause diseases in marine animals

Phytoplankton blooms

Disease in humansFood spoilageRespiratory issues,

rash. Toxins stored in

shellfish, then humans eat it.

Significance of Bacteria

Other Significance of Bacteria

Symbiotic Bacteria = associates with other organisms closely. Parasites-harmful Beneficial, Live in a host organism

Examples of Beneficial Wood-Digesting Bacteria in wood eating organisms Bioluminescence: attract mates, lure prey,

communicateExamples of Parasitic

Some toxic

Ex: Cyanobacteria

PhotosyntheticMost abundant

photosythetic org. in ocean Prob. 1st on planet Accumulated oxygen for

Earth’s early atmosphere

Many pigments to help capture light Chlorophyll-green Phycocyanin-blue Phycoerythrin-red

Form stromatolites• mainly

cyanobacteria• 2.8 bya in fossil

record

Cyanobacteria & Red Tide

Unpredictable, unsure of cause.

Massive blooms of phytoplankton Caused by cyanobacteria,

dinoflagelletes, diatomsHarms marine life:

-cuts fish gills, deplete oxygen levels, some poisonous/toxic

Harms humans-toxic fumes cause sore

throats, respiratory issues, eating marine life that stores these toxins-harmful/deadly

Red Tide Fig 2. A series of phytoplankton blooms. A cyanobacterial

(blue-green algae) in the Baltic Sea (upper left). Red tide bloom (dinoflagellate) in the Sea of Japan (upper right). Cyanobacterial bloom in the St John’s River Estuary, Florida (lower left). Cyanobacteria-chlorophyte bloom in New Zealand (lower right)

Archaea

Ancient organisms – fossils found that date back 3.8 billion years

Extremophiles – Found in extreme environments like hydrothermal vents and salt flats (two very extreme environments)

Variety of metabolic types

Widely distributed in the marine community

They can tolerate wide ranges in temperature, salinity and even desiccation (drying out)

Unicellular Algae (Alga, sing.)

Eukaryotes-Protists (some animal-like/some plant-like) Membrane bound organelles = “little organs” Have a nucleus containing DNA

UnicellularCell Wall

silicon in diatoms; cellulose in dinoflagellatesMost photosynthetic, some heterotrophicOften animal-like

Flagella Some heterotrophs

Diatoms

Photosynthetic Around half of the 12,000 known species are marine Yellow-brown from photosynthetic pigments Shell of silica Most important primary producer on Earth

Oxygen & Bottom of the food chain Mostly solitary and unicellular, but some colonial

Diatoms

Used as filtration aidMild abrasive in

products including toothpaste

Mechanical insecticide Diatomaceous Earth

absorbent for liquidsCat litter

Dinoflagellates

Most 1,200 species live in marine environment Mostly photosynthetic, some can ingest particles Each species has unique shape reinforced by

plates of cellulose Two flagella in grooves on body for motion Some are bioluminescent, produce light

Zooxanthellae

The corals and algae have a mutualistic relationship.

The coral provides Zooxan. with a protected environment and compounds they need for photosynthesis.

The Zooxan. produce oxygen and help the coral to remove wastes.

Most importantly, zooxanthellae supply the coral with glucose, product of photosynthesis.

The coral uses these products to make proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and produce calcium carbonate

Zooxanthellae provide corals with pigmentation. Left :healthy stony coral. Right: stony coral that has lost its zooxanthellae and has taken on a bleached appearance=“coral bleaching”. •If a coral polyp is without zooxanthellae cells for a long period of time, it will most likely die

Dinoflagellates

Symbiodinium sp. live in a symbiotic relationship with corals, sea

anemones and other organisms (many of these host organisms have little or no growth without their symbiotic partner)

Give products of photosynthesis to the host and in turn receive inorganic nutrients

Auburn.ceduNoaa.gov

Dinoflagellates

A few species lack chloroplasts and live as parasites in marine organisms

Pfiesteria produces very serious toxins that can cause massive fish kills, harm shellfish and impair the nervous system in humans.

Whoi.edu

Red tide

Karenia brevis

This toxic dinoflagellate is linked to dangerous “red tide” outbreaks in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dinophysis

Dinophysis species like these are associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning.

Thalassionema

Hundreds of diatoms can fit on the head of a pin, but these tiny organisms exist in countless numbers—enough to change seawater color during periodic population “blooms.”

Ecosystem Significance Human Impact

Significance of Unicellular Algae

Protozoans= “first animals”

Animal-likeUnicellularHeterotrophs, ingest food BUT some

photosynthetic!Found everywhere in oceans

3 main types: Foramaniferans Radiolarians Ciliates

Protozoa: Foraminiferans

Foraminiferans (forams) Exclusively found in marine community Found on sandy or rocky bottoms Shells of calcium carbonate Pseudopods (false feet) extend through pores in

the shell where they are used to capture minute food particles such as phytoplankton

Skeletons form sediment

Foraminifera skeletons

Can be important contributors of calcareous material on coral reefs or sandy beaches

Pink sand in Bermuda

Protozoa: Radiolarians

Radiolarians Planktonic, mostly

microscopic Shell of silica (glass) Like forams, they use

pseudopods that extend through pores in the shell where they are used to capture minute food particles such as phytoplankton

Ernst Haeckel: Challenger Expedition 1873-76

2775 species recorded

Ciliates

Cilia present for locomotion Hair-like projections

Most live as solitary cells

Some build shells made of organic debris

May live on hard substrate

Some are planktonic

Ecosystem Significance Human Impact

Significance of Protozoans

Fungi

Eukaryotic Mostly multicellularHeterotrophic

Mostly decomposersMost of the 1,500

species of marine fungi are microscopic

On mangroves, seagrass, sponges, shellfish, fish parasites.

Biotec.or.th

Fungi, lichen

Like bacteria, many fungus break down dead organic matter into detritus

Some fungus live in symbiosis with green algae, or cyanobacteria, these are known as lichens.

Marine lichens often live in wave-splashed areas of rocky shorelines and other hard substrate

Multicellular Algae: Seaweeds

EukaryoticPrimary producersNot weeds, but algae. Most biologists agree that macrophyte is a

much better name, macroalgae too. Lack true leaves, stems, and roots

Thallus

Physical Characteristics

Thallus = the complete body

Blade = leaf like, flattened portions

Pneumatocysts = gas filled bladders, keep upright so towards sunlight

Stipe = stem-likeHoldfast = attaches

seaweed to a substrate

Macrocystis a. holdfast b. stipec. blade - main organ

of photosynthesis d. bladder - keeps

blades near the surface

Blade

Bladder

Stipe

Holdfast

Types of Algae Classes

Chlorophyta = GreenPhaeophyta = BrownRhodophyta = Red

Macroalgae: Green algae

Have the same pigments as land plants (chlorophyll)

More than 7,000 species

Halimeda opuntia

Chlorophyta: Green Algae

Caulerpa racemosa

Caulerpa sertularioides

Dictyosphaeria cavernosa

Codium edule

Largest (size) and most complex of the algae

Nearly all are marine (~1500 spp.)

Brown color comes from accessory pigments (fucoxanthin)

Phaeophyta: Brown Algae

Padina (brown algae) with flat, calcified blades.

Macrocystis pyrifera

Sea palm (Postelsia palmaeformis) contains internal support structures that help them withstand wave action!

Sargassum polyphyllum Sargassum echinocarpum

Phaeophyta: Brown Algae

Turbinaria ornata

Padina japonicaHydroclathrus clathratus

Kelps!

Kelps are the largest seaweed we encounter in the ocean. They are also the most complex.

Due to this large size, many of the kelps are harvested for food!

Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera

-The largest of the kelps.

-anchors itself to the sea floor by use a massive holdfast.

-extensive pneumatocysts used for buoyancy.

-Pneumatocystskeep the seaweedclose to the surface to maximize photosyhthesis

Macrocystis pyrifera

Macrocystis pyrifera

These kelp obtain huge proportions growing as much as 0.5m/day!

Kelp forest are great for sheltering all sorts of marine life, fish, invertebrates seals and sharks. And for food!

Harvest of the upper sections of the blades for food.

Division Rhodophyta

“Red algae”

Most in marine

habitats

4,000 species

• Members of the species Rhodophyta red algae, are more numerous than the green and brown algae combined (if we include aquatics).

• Many red algae are in fact red.

due to the presence of red pigments known as phycobilins, which mask chlorophyll.

Porphya, a “red” algae

Corallina, a coralline algae, deposits CaCO3 within its cell walls which provides structural support and often encrusting many surrounding

surfaces.

Hypnea chordaceaAsparagopsis taxiformis

Galaxaura fastigiata

Acanthophora spicifera

Ahnfeltia concinna

Rhodophyta: Red Algae

Products from Seaweed:

Phycocolloids—form gels and increase viscosity of liquids

Algin—stabilizer in ice cream (Macrocystis)

Carageenan—emulsifier (Irish Moss, Chondrus)

Agar—jellies (and of course all your plates in microbiology, Gelidium, Pterocladiella)

Thickener and help smooth: • Many foods and milk-products

• Toothpaste• Beauty creams• Paints• Medical products- like bacterial culture plates, time-release

pills, and dental impression gels

Certain alga can be used to make agar or as stabilizer in gelatin and ice cream

Flowering Plants

Flower, reproductive organPhotosyntheticEukaryotesTrue stems, roots, leavesDominant on Land, few Marine species

True Flowering Plants: Seagrasses Salt Tolerant Plants:

Salt Marsh grasses Mangroves

--Seagrasses have rhizomes, or horizontal stems which grow beneath the sediment.

--Provides habitat for juveniles and larvae of many marine species--Anchors sediments--Helps stabilize soft bottoms--Protects coast from turbulence and erosion

Value of Seagrasses in FL (2006)

Total value Florida for 6 seagrass dependent species ---$71.4 million.

More than 70% of Florida's recreational and commercial fish, crustaceans, and shellfish spend part of their lives in shallow water estuaries.

Shrimp industry --$28.2 million.Stone crab fishery--$13 million.Spiny lobster fishery--$18 million. Yellowtail and gray snapper--$3.1 million Over 30 species of tropical invertebrates dependent on

seagrass habitats are collected in the Florida Keys for the marine collection industry yearly.

Over $200 million spent yearly in Monroe County in the viewing of nature and wildlife.

Salt Marsh plants

Salt water tolerant species = halophytes

Do not tolerate total submergence

Act as water purification system

Habitat and breeding grounds for many fishery species

Protect against erosion

Salt Marsh Plants

Salt Wort Cordgrass

Mangroves

Mangroves

Mangroves thrive in salty environments

Able to obtain freshwater from saltwater.

Some spp. secrete excess salt through their leaves while other block absorption of salt at their roots.

Mangrove Impacts

-Trap and cycle organics, chemical elements, sediment and minerals.

-Leaf litter important for decomposition, recycling nutrients.

-Provide shelter/habitat for marine organisms—often economically important ones.

-Nearly all commercially/recreationally important fisheries spend a portion of life in mangroves and/or seagrass

-Stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides.

Plate 8. Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle.

Red Mangrove