Light vs depth

Productivity vs depth

Productivity vs Light

PG – Gross Primary Productivity

PN – Net Primary Productivity

R - Respiration

Pmax – maximal photosynthesis value

Ic – compensation light intensity

Primary Productivity• Found near Upwelling Areas

SeaWifs Satellite

Primary Productivity• Found near Upwelling Areas

SeaWifs Satellite

Primary Productivity• Nutrients Found near Upwelling Areas

Primary Productivity• Coastal Upwelling Areas South Africa: southwest coast

Primary Productivity• Equitorial Upwelling Areas

Primary Productivity

Protists - ZooplanktonA. Foraminifera (Forams)Foraminifera (Forams)

• Test (shell) made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or agglutinated sediment particles

• Fossil tests used to age geological deposits

• Feed by extending pseudopodia through pores in test

• Pelagic forms (calcareous)

• Often have spines

• Tests may form foraminiferan oozes, esp. in shallow water beneath tropics (white cliffs of Dover – England)

• Benthic forms (calcareous or agglutinated)

• Calcareous tests can be important sources of sand for beaches

Protists - ZooplanktonA. Foraminifera (Forams)Foraminifera (Forams)

Southern England: White Cliffs of Dover

Protists - ZooplanktonA. Foraminifera (Forams)Foraminifera (Forams)

Protists - ZooplanktonA. Foraminifera (Forams)Foraminifera (Forams)

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/imagelibrary/orbulinauniversa.html

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/GeolSci/micropal/foram.html

Protists - ZooplanktonB. RadiolariansRadiolarians

Protists - ZooplanktonC. Ciliates (Ciliophores)Ciliates (Ciliophores)

Seaweed & Kelp

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedA. Green Algae (Chlorophytes)Green Algae (Chlorophytes)

• Enteromorpha• Often found in polluted areas; Used as bioassay tool

• Ulva (Sea Lettuce)• Found in areas with high nutrient levels

• Valonia (Bubble Algae)• Tropical and subtropical

• Caulerpa• Invasive species (C. taxifolia)

• Codium (Dead Man’s Fingers)• Multinucleated

• Halimeda• Calcareous alga

Ulva

ValoniaCaulerpa

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedA. Green Algae (Chlorophytes)Green Algae (Chlorophytes)

• Enteromorpha• Often found in polluted areas; Used as bioassay tool

• Ulva (Sea Lettuce)• Found in areas with high nutrient levels

• Valonia (Bubble Algae)• Tropical and subtropical

• Caulerpa• Invasive species (C. taxifolia)

• Codium (Dead Man’s Fingers)• Multinucleated

• Halimeda• Calcareous alga

Codium

Halimeda

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedB. Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)

Padina

Sargassum

• Fucus (Rockweeds)• Intertidal and subtidal species; Ecologically important

• Laminaria (Kelp)• Some species consist of a single blade

• Commonly used for food

• Postelsia (Sea Palm)• Usually on exposed rocky shorelines

Laminaria

Laminaria

Fucus

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedB. Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedB. Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)

• Egregia (Feather Boa)• Common on rocky Pacific coast

• Pelagophycus (Elk Kelp)• Large float

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedB. Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)• Macrocystis (Giant Kelp)

• May reach 100 m and grow up to 50 cm day-1

• Most common in cold water

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedB. Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)• Macrocystis (Giant Kelp)

• May reach 100 m and grow up to 50 cm day-1

• Most common in cold water

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedB. Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)• Kelp Forests

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedC. Red Algae (Rhodophyta)Red Algae (Rhodophyta)• Common in shallow water

• Contain accessory pigments called phycobilins

• Structurally less complex than brown algae

• May be heterotrophic or parasitic

• Some incorporate calcium carbonate into tissues (Why?)

• Coralline red algae

• Many are commercially important

Porphyra

Sebdenia

Halimeda

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedD. Life History of AlgaLife History of Alga

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedD. Life History of AlgaLife History of Alga

Multicellular Algae - SeaweedE. Economic Uses of KelpEconomic Uses of Kelp1. Food Source

2. Productsa. Phycocolloids

• Algin (Extracted from kelp; harvested with boats)

• Carrageenan (Extracted from red algae)

• Emulsifier for dairy products, toothpaste, puddings

• Agar (Extracted from red algae)

• Used to form jellies, thicken mixtures

• Preserves, pharmaceutical applications

b. Other

• Fertilizers, additives in animal feeds

Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)A. Seagrasses (50 – 60 species)Seagrasses (50 – 60 species)• Not true grasses (related to lilies)

• Roots, stems and shoots grow from horizontal rhizome

• Flowers typically small and inconspicuous (Why?)

Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)A. Seagrasses (50 – 60 species)Seagrasses (50 – 60 species)

1. Eelgrass (Zostera) – Temperate Atl, Pac; Tropical Pac

Eelgrass (Zostera marina)

Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)A. Seagrasses (50 – 60 species)Seagrasses (50 – 60 species)

2. Surf grass (Phyllospadix) – Temperate Pac

Surf Grass (Phyllospadix scouleri)

Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)A. Seagrasses (50 – 60 species)Seagrasses (50 – 60 species)

3. Turtle grass (Thalassia) – Tropical

Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)B. Salt MarshesSalt Marshes

1. Cord grass (Spartina)

2. Pickleweed (Salicornia) Spartina

Salicornia

Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)B. Salt MarshesSalt Marshes

1. Cord grass (Spartina)

2. Pickleweed (Salicornia)Spartina

Salicornia

Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)C. MangrovesMangroves

Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)C. Mangroves vs Salt MarshesMangroves vs Salt Marshes