Archaea
Prokaryotic, unicellular microorganisms in the domain
Autotroph
An organism that manufactures its own organic matter(food) by using energy from the sun or other sources
Bacteria
Prokaryotic, unicellular microorganisms in the domain
Bioluminescence
the production of light by living organisms
Coccolithophores
unicellular, eukaryotic phytoplankton that have calcareous, button-like structures, or coccoliths
Copepods
tiny, shrimp-like crustaceans that are often the most free-floating animals in estuarine waters
Cyanobacteria
Photosynthetic, oxygen-producing bacteria (formerly known as blue-green algae).
Diatoms
unicellular and eukaryotic autotrophs with a siliceous frustule; mostly planktonic
Dinoflagellates
Unicellular, eukaryotic, mostly autotrophic protists with two unequal flagella
dissolved organic matter
organic matter that is dissolved in water rather than being in particles
Epipelagic
Ocean: The pelagic environment from the surface 100 to 200 m. Plenty of sunlight to promote photosynthesis.
Eukaryotes
organisms made up of one or more eukaryotic cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
Flagellum
Long, whip-like organelle that is usually involved in locomotion
Foraminifera
Protozoans with a calcareous test and pseudopodia
Frustule
Siliceous, box-like cell wall of diatoms
HABS
Natural environment where an organism lives
Heterotroph
organism that cannot make its own food
Holoplankton
organisms that live their entire lives as plankton
krill
planktonic crustaceans that are an important food of whales and other animals
Macroplankton
Large organisms 2 to 20 cm in size
Megaplankton
Very large organisms over 20 cm in size
Meroplankton
The planktonic phase of the life cycle of organisms that spend only part of their life drifting in the plankton.
microbial loop
component of pelagic food webs in which dissolved organic material cycles through picoplankton and nanoplankton then back thru the main food web
Microplankton
Organisms 20 to 200 um in size
Nanoplankton
very small unicellular plankton, at the
limits of resolution of light microscopy 2 to 20 um in size
Nekton
All organisms that swim actively in open water, independent of currents
nitrogen fixation
process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use
Phytoplankton
photosynthetic plankton found near the surface of the ocean (single cell)
Picoplankton
Extremely small organisms .2 to 2 um in size
Planktonic
Describes bacteria that are freely floating in water. (Can't go against the current)
Protists
Collection of different groups of relatively simple eukaryotes, including unicellular forms and multicellular
Radiolarians
protozoans with a silica shell and pseudopodia
Silicoflagellates
unicellular and eukaryotic members of the phytoplankton that have a star-shaped silica skeleton
test
Calcium carbonate "shell" of marine protozoans such as formaminiferans
Virus
a nonliving, infectious particle composed of a nucleic acid and a protein coat; it can invade and destroy a cell (only can reproduce in living cells)
Zooplankton
The heterotrophic, animal and protozoan component of plankton
Mesoplankton
the component to plankton that consist of an organism of 0.2-20 mm in size
Prokaryote
an organism , like bacteria with prokaryotes cells