Chapter 5Marine Prokaryotes, Protists,

Fungi and Plants

All are primary producers which are capable of using light energy to perform

photosynthesis

Kingdom Monera (Bacteria)

• Prokaryotic, single-celled• 3 types of bacteria

–Heterotrophic–Photosynthetic –Chemosynthetic

Heterotrophic bacteria• Obtain energy from other organisms• Decomposers = decay bacteria• Recycle essential nutrients

Autotrophic bacteria• Make their own

organic compounds1. Photosynthetic

2. Chemosynthetic: release energy from chemical compounds such as H2S & CH4

Cyanobacteria

• Blue-green algae, primitive plant-like bacteria

• Phylum Cyanobacteria

• First photosynthetic organisms on earth

Stromatolites• Calcareous (fossil) mounds formed by

blue-green algae 3 b.y.a.

Red tides• Some are caused by cyanobacteria

– Cause rashes on swimmers

Kingdom Protista

• Algae - aquatic, photosynthetic organisms

• Eukaryotic• Single and multi-

cellular

DiatomsKingdom Protista

Phylum Chrysophyta• Unicellular• Silica (glass) cell walls• Important Primary producers• Diatomaceous earth :

– Filters for swimming pools– Temperature and sound insulators– Abrasives (toothpaste)

Blooms• Period of rapid diatom or

dinoflagellate reproduction

DinoflagellatesKingdom Protista

Phylum Pyrrophyta• Planktonic, unicellular• Almost all are marine• Red tides• Release toxins -

(Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) that are concentrated by shellfish

• Bioluminescence - Noctiluca

Zooxanthellae• Dinoflagellate that

lives in the tissue of marine animals such as corals, clams, etc.

• When Zooxanthellae leave the corals, they turn white = Coral Bleaching

Protozoans• Simple, animal-like

protists• Ingest food and are

photosynthetic• Single-celled• Foraminiferans -

have a shell or “test” of CaCO3

• Radiolarians - secrete shells of silica

Foraminiferans

Radiolarians

Kingdom Fungi• Multicellular

eukaryotic• 500 marine species• Decompose dead

organic matter

Kingdom Plantae• Seaweeds (Macroalgae)

– All eukaryotic – Lack true stems, leaves and roots– Most are multicellular

• Challenges to Seaweeds– Wave action and turbulence– Competition for light and space– Predators

Structure of Seaweed• Thallus – complete plant• Blades - leaf-like portion• Pneumatocysts - gas

filled bladders (filled w/CO2)

• Holdfast - root-like structure (anchors)holds on to bottom

• Stipe – stem

Phylum Chlorophyta(Green algae)

• Mostly freshwater and terrestrial

• 10% of species are marine

Ulva

Phylum Phaeophyta (Brown Algae)

• Almost all species are marine• Sargassum (Sargasso seaweed)• Macrocystis (Giant Kelp)

– plants grow up to 300 ft– can grow 20”/day – form kelp beds or kelp forests– Harvested for Algin (used in cosmetics and

ice cream).

Phylum Rhodophyta(Red Algae)

• Highest commercial value• Fertilizer and animal feed• Agar and carrageenan:

gelling and thickening agents

• Coralline algae: have calcium carbonate in cell walls.

• Species: Nori (Porphyra), Irish Moss