The Microbial WorldChapters 5, 15

The Marine Environment

Plankton Collection

Plankton ClassificationMegaplankton 20-200 cmMacroplankton 2-20 cmMesoplankton 0.2-20 mmMicroplankton 20-200 mNanoplankton 2-20 mPicoplankton 0.2-2 m

MetabolismMetabolism- all chemical reactions that occur in an organism.Autotrophic- requiring carbon dioxide and a source of energy for the synthesis of organic molecules (glucose).Photoautotrophs- absorb light energy from the sun.Chemoautotrophs- derive energy from chemical compounds.Heterotrophic- requiring complex organic compounds; obtains energy by consuming organic matter.

Bacteria and Archaea

Photosynthetic ProkaryotesKingdom- BacteriaPhylum- Cyanophyta

CyanophytaCharacteristics

Examples- Oscillatoria, Synechococcus, Synechocystis.

Cyanobacterial Cell

Cyanophyta- Gram Negative BacteriaGram positive- peptidoglycan layer; stains with crystal violet.Gram negative- peptidoglycan layer sandwiched by lipopolysaccharide and protein layers; does not stain with crystal violet.

Global O2 from photosynthesis80% comes from marine cyanobacteria.SynechococcusSynechocystis20% comes from terrestrial systems.5% of this comes from tropical rainforests.

Stromatolites

ArchaeaProkaryoticExtremophilesHydrothermal ventsHypersaline basinsHighly acidic env.Highly alkaline env.

Photosynthetic Protista (the algae)Dinophyta- dinoflagellates.Haptophyta- haptophytes.Heterokontophyta- heterokont algae.Xanthophyceae- yellow-green algae.Bacillariophyceae- diatoms.

Dinophyta- dinoflagellatesCharacteristics

Examples- Ceratium, Pfiesteria.

Pfiesteria piscicida

Haptophyta- haptophytesCharacteristics

Examples- Prymnesium, Phaeocystis.

Heterokontophyta- heterokonts

Xanthophyceae- yellow-green algaeCharacteristics

Examples- Vaucheria.

Bacillariophyceae- diatomsCharacteristics

Examples- Coscinodiscus, Chaetoceros.

Frustule Morphology

The ProtozoansGranuloreticulosa- foraminiferans.Polycystina- radiolarians.Ciliophora- ciliates.

Granuloreticulosa- foraminiferansCharacteristics

Example- Globigerina.

Pink Beaches of Bermuda

Polycystina- radiolariansCharacteristics

Example- Hexacontium.

Various Radiolarians

Ciliophora- ciliatesCharacteristics

Examples- Strombilidium, Tintinnopsis.

Fig. 5.14

Kingdom FungiCharacteristics

Example- Aspergillus.

Stromatolite- rock-like deposition of carbonates and trapped sediments; formed by cyanobacteria and diatoms.Age- 3.5 BYA.Growth-deposition-growth-deposition.S-shaped in growth= 1 year.Florida, Bahamas, Australia.*