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Members of the planktonic community made up of bacteria.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoZooplankton eats bacterioplankton. Bacterioplankton is a type of plankton that consume organic material that was left behind by other organisms.
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What do bacterioplankton eat?
Bacterioplankton live off minerals from the water as well as smaller one cell animals.
What ocean animals eat bacteria?
Bacterioplankton are a type of plankton so small that they eat organic materials including bacteria. It is one of the three types of plankton, phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and zooplankton.
What animals eat bacteria?
Bacterioplankton are a type of plankton so small that they eat organic materials including bacteria. It is one of the three types of plankton, phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and zooplankton.
What phylum do plankton belong to?
What phylum plankton belong to will depend on the specific organism. It will be a member of either bacterioplankton, phytoplankton or zooplankton.
What is the meaning of the term plankton and what are two types of plankton?
Plankton usually refers to the small organisms which are incapable of swimming against the current. This includes plants (phytoplankton), animals (zooplankton), and bacteria (bacterioplankton), making three groups.See the related link listed below for more information:
Are hamsters prokaryotic or eukaryotic?
Plankton can be either eukaryotic or prokaryotic, it's dependent on the specific type of plankton. Plankton are divided into three different categories, Zooplankton, Bacterioplankton and phytoplankton. Zooplankton are eukaryotic.
Do plankton eat sea weed?
No. Phytoplankton are plants themselves, and they derive their energy from sunlight!
What is the weight of a single plankton?
We have a problem weighing a single plankton. And it's not because we don't have accurate machines (scales) to do that. It's because there are so many kinds of plankton. Here's a most important fact: plankton is a term that refers to aquatic life that lives in certain zones of the open ocean or a lake. It's not a single living thing or a small group of things, but is comprised of many thousands of types of organisms. They range is size tremendously! Because plankton represents a wide group of organisms, we can't discern "the weight of a single plankton" as was asked. A single amphipod may weight a ten thousandth of a gram, but there are bacteria that are plankton - the bacterioplankton - and they are "electron microscope small" and weigh far less than a microgram.
What is an omnivore in the ocean?
Something that is a carnivore and a herbivore is called an omnivore. An omnivore in the ocean is: piranha dugong seal whale dolphin some sharks
What is the difference between zooplankton and zooxanthellae?
Plankton is broken down into the three trophic level groups listed below.Zooplankton: animals, so they consume oxygen (respiration) in the waterPhytoplankton: plants, so they consume oxygen (respiration) in the water, but they also consume CO2 (during photosynthesis). As a result of the process of photosynthesis (autotrophic organisms) they only appear/live in the water where it reaches the solar light (not in the depth of sea).Bacterioplankton: bacteria and archaea that remineralize organic material.See the related link listed below for more information:
What are facts about plankton?
Plankton are tiny floating organisms (living things) that are found in both the sea and ponds and lakes.The word 'plankton' comes from a Greek word meaning 'wandering'.Plankton is a general term that includes every marine organism too small and weak to swim for itself.The smallest algae are called plankton, but large floating algae (seaweeds) are not called plankton.Plankton can be divided into phytoplankton, which are tiny plants, and zooplankton, which are tiny animals, but the division is blurred.Most phytoplankton is very tiny indeed and so called nannoplankton and microplankton. Zooplankton is generally bigger and called macroplankton.Green algae that give many ponds a bright green floating carpet are kinds of plankton.Pliytoplankton get their energy by photosynthesis just like other plants.Countless puffs of oxygen given out by plankton early in Earth's history gave the air its vital oxygen.Plankton is the basic food of all large ocean animals.PlanktonThe free-floating organisms known as plankton, from the Greek "wandering," are the drifters of the ocean. Although most of these organisms are motile (moving), they cannot swim or move against currents, but they can move vertically in the water column.Many marine plankton are found in the deep waters of the outer ocean, or pelagic waters, whereas others are found in the shallow waters known as the neritic zone. Many of the neritic plankton are known as meroplankton, and spend only a brief period of their life cycle in the planktonic category. Many pelagic forms, such as the holoplankton, are planktonic during their entire lifespan.The size of plankton can also determine its general name.Picoplankton: Smaller than 2 μm ; includes bacteria, prochlorophytes, and virusesNanoplankton: 2 to 20 μm; includes diatoms, coccoliths, and silicoflagellatesMicroplankton: 20 to 200 μm; includes large diatoms, dinoflagellates, and small zooplankton, such as ciliatesMacroplankton: 200 to 2,000 μm; includes large zooplankton, copepods, and invertebrate larvaeMegaplankton: Larger than 2,000 μm; includes fish larvae and gelatinous zooplanktonPhytoplanktonMany kinds of marine and fresh-water organisms utilize inorganic carbon (as carbon dioxide) and fix it into organic compounds by photosynthesis . The principal taxa of microscopic planktonic producers, primary producers , are found over most of the world's oceans, lakes, rivers, and estuaries, and comprise the base of the food web . Phytoplankton consist primarily of diatoms, dinoflagellates, coccolithophorids, silicoflagellates, bacteria, and viruses. All of the organisms discussed below are key players in the microbial food web.Diatoms.Diatoms have cell walls of silica and pectin, and float in the water column or attach to surfaces as single cells or chains. They are one of the major contributors to primary production in coastal waters, and occur everywhere in the ocean, but are most abundant in colder, nutrient-rich, nearshore waters. Cell division occurs by fission, which is accompanied by a reduction in cell size. They are one of the principal groups that fix carbon through photosynthesis, and this production is prominent during seasonal blooms of short duration.Dinoflagellates.Dinoflagellates occur as single cells, either naked or within a cellulose cell wall, and many species use flagella to move. These organisms are sometimes classified as protozoa and algae because of their ability to photosynthesize and also absorb nutrients by being parasitic, or by ingesting organic particles. They are second to diatoms in contributing to primary production, and are widespread in the oceans, but are most abundant in nutrient-poor waters offshore. Reproduction is by cell division. Some species are bioluminescent (emitting a pale blue glow seen at night). Dinoflagellates often are the cause of red and brown tides, so named because the algal pigments give the water a colored tint.Coccolithophorids.Coccolithophorids are single-celled organisms. Many are flagellated, and are protected by ornate calcareous plates, called coccoliths, embedded in a gelatinous sheath that surrounds the cell. These organisms may form cysts that produce spores to produce new individuals. They are most abundant in warm, open-ocean waters, and are sometimes found nearshore.* Coccolithophores can photosynthesize (autotrophic) and may also absorb organic matter (heterotrophic).Silicoflagellates.Silicoflagellates occur as single flagellated cells and typically secrete a silicious outer skeleton. Like coccoliths, these organisms are both autotrophic and heterotrophic , and are most abundant in cold, nutrient-rich waters.Bacteria.Bacteria are prokaryotes with cell walls made of chitin , and occur as single coccoid cells or long filaments. They often are restricted to waters with low oxygen, and are important in the metabolism of aquatic ecosystems. To support their metabolism, they obtain nutrients by the uptake of organic matter and the release of exoenzymes to lyse (distintegrate or dissolve) particulate organic matter, and attack diatoms, dinoflagellates, and flagellates. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are photosynthetic. Bacterial activity in marine waters is strongly affected by availability of nutrients and organic matter. Their productivity increases as phytoplankton productivity increases.Viruses.Viruses play an important role in marine food webs. They infect a wide range of hosts, including bacteria and phytoplankton. They can potentially reduce phytoplankton and bacterial production by viral lysing of their cells and the releasing of dissolved organic carbon. This dissolved carbon can than be utilized by other phytoplankton cells.Prochlorophytes.Prochlorophytes are a recently discovered group of extremely abundant producers that are barely visible by microscopy. They are most abundant at the lower layers of the illuminated region of the water column, and are now considered to be another major player in primary production.Nanoflagellates.Nanoflagellates are both autotrophic and heterotrophic. They feed on viruses, bacteria, and some picoplankton and nanoplankton. Nanoflagellates are major consumers of bacteria; some experiments show that they may be able control their abundances when larger predators, such as dinoflagellates, are not present. However, this is less likely to occur in nature.Protozoans.Nanoplanktonic and microplanktonic protozoan groups are mainly ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates. They consume bacteria, nanoplankton, and microplankton. While these groups engulf their prey, they also release nutrients that stimulate the growth of these same prey.ZooplanktonZooplankton are planktonic free-floating animals in fresh and marine aquatic systems, and are the major consumers of the organisms in the microbial food web. These organisms possess a wide range of feeding strategies, from the nematocysts (stinging cells) of cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish) to the complicated mouthparts of copepods. Some are carnivorous (animal-eaters), some are herbivorous (plant-eaters), and some are omnivorous (eaters of plants and animals).These animals can move by means of cilia, flagella, jointed appendages, jet propulsion, or tailed larvae (as in tunicates to larval fish). Reproduction varies from asexual, to fission and fragmentation, to sexual reproduction where some gametes are released into the water and fertilized, yet others are retained and fertilized internally.Zooplankton include many phylum, and not all can be discussed here. Some live their entire life cycle in the water (holoplankton), whereas only the larval stages of fish and other benthic organisms (such as starfish) live in the water column for a short time (meroplankton). All are considered zooplankton. An overview of the major zooplankton phyla follows.Protozoa.Discussed previously, this group includes ciliates, dinoflagellates, foraminifera, and radiolarian.Coelenterata (Cnidaria).Typically known as jellyfish, the major groups are Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, and Anthozoa. The hydrozoans medusae are the prominent members in zooplankton, and the most common forms are aurelia, pelagia, and siphonophores. These gelatinous animals are major consumers of smaller zooplankton and some of the microbial food web.Ctenophora.Best known as comb jellies, these possess eight "comb" rows of fused cilia. When they are abundant, these animals can consume phytoplankton and zooplankton, and can clear the water of food for other zooplankton.Chaetognatha.Known as the arrow worm, this is a common member of deep-water plankton. Smaller species are found in coastal waters, whereas larger species are abundant offshore in blue water. They are predacious carnivores that grasp their prey and paralyze them before ingesting them.Annelida.This includes many species of marine polychaetes. Many of these organisms can be seen on the surface at night, shedding gametes for sexual reproduction. Their larvae are abundant in the zooplankton community.Mollusca.This includes marine gastropod larvae, pteropods, and cephalopods (commonly known as squid and octopus).* Mollusks are consumers of larger zooplankton.Echinodermata.This includes starfish, brittle stars, and sea cucumber. All these animals are meroplankton. Their larvae are a major presence in the zooplankton community.Arthropoda.These are the major members of zooplankton and include copepods, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, amphipods, crustaceans, and euphausids, or krill, which are the major source of nutrition for some whales.* The most studied of crustacea are the copepods. These animals are found in all parts of the world's oceans, lakes, and estuaries and are considered the major consumers of most of the organisms in the microbial loop. Because they are holoplankton, spending their entire life in water, they can consume a wide range of food particles, from nanoplankton to microplankton, as they mature. Copepods are responsible for much of the carbon energy transferred from phytoplankton to larger zooplankton.What are Plankton?Plankton is small plants or animals that may be microscopic in size. It floats or drifts in huge numbers in bodies of both fresh and salt water. There are two distinct types of plankton. The first is minute, often microscopic sized plants known as phytoplankton and animal organisms known as zooplankton. Within each plankton type there are many different variations or species. In fact, there are an estimated 5,000 different types of phytoplankton and thousands of zooplankton species. Many zooplankton are the eggs or larvae of larger marine animals that are classified as plankton during the early stages of their life cycle.Where Does the Term Plankton Come From?The term "plankton" is derived from the Greek "planktos" for wandering or drifting. Phyto, as in phytoplankton, is taken from the Latin "phyton" which means tree or plant. The "zoo" in zooplankton is taken from the Greek word "zoe" meaning life. Colonies of plankton are known as "blooms".What are the Two Primary Groups of Plankton?Most plankton remains microscopic in size throughout its life cycle. Two examples of this type of plankton are bacterioplankton and virioplankton. However, many species of zooplankton known as ichthyoplankton are the eggs and larvae of larger marine creatures such as crustaceans and jellyfish. Ichthyoplankton feeds off phytoplankton and zooplankton. Of the two distinct plankton groupings, zooplankton comprises approximately 70 percent of the ocean's plankton population.What do plankton eat?If plankton is at the bottom of the food chain, on what does plankton itself feed? This is a complex, multifaceted question due to the vast diversity of plankton species and sub-species. Plankton is not only divided into plant and animal forms. In both of those broad classifications, there are thousands and thousands of species and sub-species. Scientists have discovered more than 5,000 different species of phytoplankton alone. There are estimates that the number of zooplankton species might be in the tens of thousands.Phytoplankton, as a plant, obtains its food in the same manner as other plant life. Its main source of nutrition is the sun. As a result of photosynthesis, all plant life has the ability to absorb sunlight and to transform the energy into food (carbohydrates). Phytoplankton never lacks for food as long as the sun shines. Plants have the ability to maximize their utilization of available sunlight. Even plant life living in areas where sunlight is restricted or reduced, such as in the depths of the sea, are capable of trapping the smallest amounts of available sunlight as food. This ability to transform sunlight into food, along with changes in the earth's climate and increased pollution levels in the world's oceans, have been credited with a tremendous growth in plankton blooms in some areas of the world. These enormous blooms can even be seen from space as huge swaths of color in the ocean. Because phytoplankton is so susceptible to changes in their environment, it provides an excellent research framework for scientists studying climatic change and the effects weather changes on the earth's oceans and atmosphere.Zooplankton is by far the most prolific of the two types of plankton. Besides the many small and often microscopic animals that make up a large part of the zooplankton population, there are many types of zooplankton that are the eggs and larvae of other sea creatures. These species of zooplankton grow and develop into much larger animals and fish. For many of these creatures, their main source of food is the phytoplankton. Some of the larger species of zooplankton are true predators and feed off other zooplankton.The Role Of Phytoplankton on the Earth's BiospherePhytoplankton is a vital part of earth's biosphere. As a plant, it has the unique ability to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Along with the rest of the planet's plant life, phytoplankton is responsible for the constant replenishment of the oxygen necessary for life. In fact, phytoplankton is responsible for 50 percent of earth's oxygen renewal. Phytoplankton is also an essential element in the ocean's food chain. Many fish and other marine creature rely on it as a readily available and primary food source.How do Plankton Reproduce?The reproductive methods used by plankton can be divided into two main categories. Phytoplankton, usually microscopic, is a single-celled organism. In most cases, it reproduces by cloning itself. One single-celled phytoplankton organism will split into two identical phytoplankton plants. This method of reproduction is highly efficient as no male or female partners are required. In fact, reproduction can be so rapid that, were it not for the presence of inhibiting factors such as marine creatures feeding off the phytoplankton, their growth rate would be almost beyond the imagination. Indeed, some scientists have speculated that one of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, when the water turned red, was in fact, a population explosion of a particular, red-colored type of phytoplankton.Some phytoplankton species combine within them both male and female elements. Others reproduce by shedding filaments which then grow into phytoplankton. In all cases, the offspring are clones of the parent.Zooplankton, on the other hand, being animal, even though a simple one, has a wide variety of reproductive systems. As noted, some types of zooplankton are the eggs or larvae of larger sea creatures that will develop and reproduce as their parents did. However, many species of zooplankton are distinct species and have their own, often unique ways of reproducing. Nature has contrived many different ways to ensure that the female zooplankton egg is fertilized by the male zooplankton's sperm. In some species, the male and female zooplankton will use external appendages to keep together during the egg and sperm uniting. Other zooplankton species will release eggs into the water. The eggs will float until they come into contact with sperm. Yet other species release eggs and sperm simultaneously into the water to encourage reproduction.The main difference between the reproductive methods of phytoplankton and zooplankton lies in the simple fact that all zooplankton reproduction demands both a male and a female partner. The female contributes an egg and the male the sperm as in mammals and other living creatures.What is the Lifespan of Plankton?Because there are more than 5,000 species of phyloplankton and thousands of species of zooplankton. There is no specific lifespan that would apply to all species of plankton. With such a wide diversity of species and sub-species, many of which are actually the early stages of larger, more complex biological organisms, defining an accurate lifespan for plankton as a whole is not practical or realistic. However, scientific research, especially that conducted over the past 10 years, provides information that enables one to make a general estimate of life cycles and lifespans for the different plankton groupings.If one looks at the zooplankton (animal) population, research has shown that the lifespan is, to a large extent, dependent upon the size of the organism. The larger the organism, the longer the lifespan of the species of plankton. By and large, zooplankton lifespans range from only a few months to much more than a year. Jellyfish, for example, are estimated by some scientists to have average lifespans of approximately a year. But some jellyfish species can live longer. Chaetognaths (arrow worms) are a major component of plankton in all parts of the world. They have an average life span of only 200 days.A problem that one encounters in attempting to provide a reasonable estimate of the lifespan of plankton is how to relate to single-celled plankton. As most single-cell organisms tend to reproduce by division, it can be said that they never really die. Each new generation is the clone of the previous. It is thus single-celled immortality. But even here there is wide diversity in time periods. One-celled plankton divide as frequently as every few hours or they could divide every few days. Various one-celled plankton species have different dividing time periods.The determination of the lifespan of plankton must also consider non-optimal conditions. The optimum conditions for the extension of life are rarely found in nature. One consideration alone, the fact that plankton is a major source of food for many marine creatures, limits the realistic lifespan, as opposed to the biological lifespan, of plankton. Thus a more practical term to employ in such a discussion might be "life expectancy" as opposed to "lifespan."1. They can only swim verticallyeach one is as small as a grain of rice. they are found in the sea or ocean
