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Marine life: the planktonMarine life: the plankton

Production & Energy TransferProduction & Energy Transfer

Part of Chapter 12, Chapter 13Part of Chapter 12, Chapter 13

(review) Organization of life(review) Organization of life

•• Domain Domain ArchaeaArchaea: most are : most are extremophilesextremophiles(prefer environments with high(prefer environments with hightemp/pressure); hard temp/pressure); hard livinlivin’’ bacteriabacteria

•• Domain BacteriaDomain Bacteria: regular bacteria; no: regular bacteria; nonucleus or organellesnucleus or organelles

•• Domain Domain EukaryaEukarya: all complex organisms: all complex organismswith nucleus, organelles; includes plants,with nucleus, organelles; includes plants,animals, fungi, animals, fungi, protists protists (simple cells)(simple cells)

Prokaryotes (usually no nucleus – simple life forms)

Eukaryotes (has nucleus – complex organisms)

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(review) Organization of life(review) Organization of life

•• 3 Domains3 Domains–– 5 Kingdoms5 Kingdoms

•• Kingdom Kingdom Monera Monera (bacteria)(bacteria)•• Kingdom Kingdom Protoctista Protoctista (algae and protozoa)(algae and protozoa)•• Kingdom Kingdom Fungi Fungi (mold and lichens)(mold and lichens)•• Kingdom Kingdom Plantae Plantae (multi-celled plants)(multi-celled plants)•• Kingdom Kingdom Animalia Animalia (sponges to humans(sponges to humans))

Organization of lifeOrganization of life

ArchaeaBacteria

Eukarya

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BacteriaBacteria

•• Very important in the grand scheme ofVery important in the grand scheme ofthingsthings

•• Can live anywhere on anythingCan live anywhere on anything•• Bacteria in the deepest darkest reaches ofBacteria in the deepest darkest reaches of

the Earththe Earth•• Some make their own food (autotrophic),Some make their own food (autotrophic),

some do not (heterotrophic)some do not (heterotrophic)

PlanktonPlankton

•• Kingdoms Kingdoms MoneraMonera,,ProtoctistaProtoctista•• Plankton = organisms (both plant andPlankton = organisms (both plant and

animal) that cannot swim against aanimal) that cannot swim against acurrent (current (““floatersfloaters””; ; ““drifters)drifters)

•• PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton = plant-like drifters = plant-like drifters•• ZooplanktonZooplankton = animal-like drifters = animal-like drifters

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Lifestyles of the small and feebleLifestyles of the small and feeble

•• HoloplanktonHoloplankton: plankton that spend their: plankton that spend theirwhole lives within the water columnwhole lives within the water column–– e.g. jellyfish, krill, copepodse.g. jellyfish, krill, copepods

•• MeroplanktonMeroplankton: plankton that spend some: plankton that spend someportion of their lives on the bottomportion of their lives on the bottom(usually juvenile or (usually juvenile or postlarval postlarval stages)stages)–– e.g. sea urchins, sea stars, octopi, lobsterse.g. sea urchins, sea stars, octopi, lobsters

Sunlight Drives the Oceans (?)Sunlight Drives the Oceans (?)

•• LetLet’’s Review:s Review:–– The oceans are The oceans are stratifiedstratified

•• The surface is warm and well-litThe surface is warm and well-lit•• Biological elements (nutrients) are generally lowBiological elements (nutrients) are generally low

–– Most of the ocean is deep, dark, and coldMost of the ocean is deep, dark, and cold

–– So why is sunlight so important?So why is sunlight so important?

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SunlightSunlightchangeschangescolor withcolor withdepthdepth……..

Sunlight also disappearsSunlight also disappearsREALLY fast!REALLY fast!

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http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/

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Sunlight Drives the Oceans (?)Sunlight Drives the Oceans (?)

•• LetLet’’s Review:s Review:–– The oceans are The oceans are stratifiedstratified

•• The surface is warm and well-litThe surface is warm and well-lit•• Biological elements (nutrients) are generally lowBiological elements (nutrients) are generally low

–– Most of the ocean is deep, dark, and coldMost of the ocean is deep, dark, and cold

–– So why is sunlight so important?So why is sunlight so important?

Huge Change--Mass Extinction!

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Primary productionPrimary production

• Autotrophs make their own food viamake their own food via

– Photosynthesis (plants) (plants)

•• Using HUsing H22O, COO, CO22, light, and nutrients to make organic material, light, and nutrients to make organic material

(Equation of Life)(Equation of Life)

•• Most ecosystems based on photosynthesis (99.9% of Most ecosystems based on photosynthesis (99.9% of oceansoceans’’ss

biomass relies on biomass relies on photoysnthesis-supplied photoysnthesis-supplied organic matter!)organic matter!)

– Chemosynthesis (bacteria)(bacteria)

•• Using chemical energy to make organic materialUsing chemical energy to make organic material

–– Hydrothermal ventsHydrothermal vents

TheThe secret ofsecret of photosynthesisphotosynthesis

A phytoplankton cell is like a potato--itA phytoplankton cell is like a potato--it’’s full ofs full ofstarch, oils, and other energy storingstarch, oils, and other energy storing

compounds that let the cell survive when itcompounds that let the cell survive when it’’ssnot innot in sunlightsunlight.

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Hydrothermal Vent:Hydrothermal Vent:ChemosynthesisChemosynthesis

ProductionProduction

•• AutotrophsAutotrophs called called ““Primary ProducersPrimary Producers””–– Primary production - rate Primary production - rate –– how fast they grow how fast they grow

g C / mg C / m22 / yr / yr–– Biomass - an amount or standing stockBiomass - an amount or standing stock

g C / mg C / m22

•• HeterotrophsHeterotrophs called called ““Secondary ProducersSecondary Producers””–– cannot make own foodcannot make own food–– Must eat.Must eat.

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Needs of phytoplanktonNeeds of phytoplankton

•• Need Need lightlight and and nutrientsnutrients

–– Must stay within sunlit layer (for photosynthesis)Must stay within sunlit layer (for photosynthesis)

–– Must have nutrients in environment for growthMust have nutrients in environment for growth

–– Must be able to TAKE IN these nutrientsMust be able to TAKE IN these nutrientsefficientlyefficiently

–– Must expel wastesMust expel wastes

Primary producers: who are they?Primary producers: who are they?

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Primary ProductionPrimary Production

•• OceanOcean–– Algae (not same as vascular plants)Algae (not same as vascular plants)

•• Microalgae Microalgae - phytoplankton, single-cell, tiny (µm)- phytoplankton, single-cell, tiny (µm)•• Macroalgae Macroalgae - seaweeds- seaweeds

–– All have photosynthetic pigmentsAll have photosynthetic pigments ChlorophyllChlorophyll - absorbs blue, reflects green - absorbs blue, reflects green PhycoerythrinPhycoerythrin - absorbs blue, reflects red- absorbs blue, reflects red FucoxanthinFucoxanthin - absorbs blue, reflects yellow- absorbs blue, reflects yellow

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Global Phytoplankton BiomassGlobal Phytoplankton Biomass

MicroalgaeMicroalgae: Diatoms: Diatoms

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MicroalgaeMicroalgae: Dinoflagellates: Dinoflagellates

MacroalgaeMacroalgae: Green Seaweeds: Green Seaweeds

Ulva lactuca Chlorophyta “Sea Lettuce”

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MacroalgaeMacroalgae: Red Seaweeds: Red SeaweedsPorphyra sp. Rhodophyta Nori (mmm…)

MacroalgaeMacroalgae: Brown Seaweeds: Brown Seaweeds

Macrocystis pyrifera Phaeophyta “Kelp”

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Primary ProductionPrimary Production

(Low E molecules)

(High E molecules)

COCO22 + H + H22OO

CHCH22O + OO + O22

EnergyEnergyININ

(Sun)(Sun)

EnergyEnergyOUTOUT

Photosynthesis Respiration

(sugar)

Primary Production: building biomassPrimary Production: building biomass

•• What about lipids,What about lipids,proteins, etc.?proteins, etc.?–– Use ATP $Use ATP $

•• AdenosineAdenosineTriTriphosphatephosphate–– P (phosphorous) is keyP (phosphorous) is key

•• Other nutrients?Other nutrients?

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Primary ProductionPrimary Production

Chemical Composition of Chemical Composition of ““typicaltypical”” algae algae

1. The Major Elements % tissue Limiting?• Oxygen ~60 No• Carbon ~20 No• Hydrogen ~10 No

2. The Minor Elements“Macro-nutrients”• Nitrogen 1-5 Often• Phosphorous 1-5 Often

“Micro-nutrients”• (Na, Cl, Mg, Zn, Si, Co, Fe…) <0.05 Perhaps

Primary ProductionPrimary ProductionSo our So our ““Equation of LifeEquation of Life””

CCOO22 + + PPOO44 ++ NNOO33 ++ HH22OO CCHH22O,O,PP,,NN + + OO22carbon dioxide + phosphate + nitrate + water becomes organic tissue + oxygen

2612622666 OOHCOHCO +!+

is really more complicatedis really more complicated……

Photosynthesis

Respiration

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Primary ProductionPrimary Production

Redfield Ratio Redfield Ratio (C:N:P = 106:16:1)(C:N:P = 106:16:1)–– Approx. concentration of elements in phytoplankton Approx. concentration of elements in phytoplankton ––

each in relation to each other; nearly constant ratioseach in relation to each other; nearly constant ratios

CC106106NN1616PP11 (by atoms)(by atoms)

CC106106NN1616SiSi1616PP11 (diatoms)(diatoms)

- Add (Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn)- Add (Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn)0.010.01 (expanded)(expanded)

CO2 + PO4 + NO3 + H2O CH2O,P,N + O2

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Primary ProductionPrimary Production

Simply describes thetransformation of

inorganic compounds intoorganic compounds

Photosynthesis usessunlight, but other types

exist, such aschemosynthesis at vents

Primary ProductionPrimary Production•• Principle of Limiting FactorsPrinciple of Limiting Factors

–– (aka Liebig(aka Liebig’’s Law: s Law: one missing nutrient stuntsone missing nutrient stunts

phytoplankton growthphytoplankton growth))

•• Macronutrients (N, P) usually the limitationMacronutrients (N, P) usually the limitation

–– P - comes from rock weatheringP - comes from rock weathering

•• As POAs PO44== (phosphate) (phosphate)

•• Recycled within cells quickly (ATP - ADP - ATP, etc.)Recycled within cells quickly (ATP - ADP - ATP, etc.)

•• NOT a structural componentNOT a structural component

–– N - plenty in atm (NN - plenty in atm (N22), but not available to plants or), but not available to plants or

animals, which need inorganic nitrogen (animals, which need inorganic nitrogen (NONO33--, NO, NO22

--, NH, NH44++ ))

•• N is most often the main limiting factor for algal growthN is most often the main limiting factor for algal growth

•• N-Cycle is a bit more complicatedN-Cycle is a bit more complicated……

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Global Phytoplankton BiomassGlobal Phytoplankton Biomass

• Only primary producers have chlorophyll, so we can usechlorophyll to measure biomass

• Biomass is NOT primary production! Production is therate of change of the biomass--so how do we measure it?

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Measuring Primary ProductionMeasuring Primary ProductionWe can measure the

rate (growth) by trackingany parameterassociated withphotosynthesis.

- Carbon uptake

- Oxygen production

- Change in biomass

- Uptake of any othernutrient, if we assumeRedfield proportions

Global Primary Production Global Primary Production (g C/m(g C/m22 yr) yr)

We can even estimate growth (primary production) from satellites!

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0.50.50.10.1300300UpwellingUpwelling

81.581.590905050OpenOpenOceanOcean

18189.99.9100100CoastalCoastal

Percent TotalPercent TotalOceanOcean

ProductionProduction

PercentPercentOcean AreaOcean Area

AverageAverageProductivityProductivity(gC/m2/yr)(gC/m2/yr)

Ocean Primary ProductionOcean Primary Production

25 B25 B72%72%5050OceanOcean

26 B26 B28%28%160160LandLand

TotalTotalProductionProduction(tons C /yr)(tons C /yr)

FractionFractionEarthEarth’’ssSurfaceSurface

AverageAverageProductivityProductivity(gC/m2/yr)(gC/m2/yr)

Global Primary ProductionGlobal Primary Production

•• About equalAbout equal……