virus
a particle made up of a short chain of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat
capsid
outer protein coat of a virus
retrovirus
a type of virus that stores its genetic information as single-stranded RNA
lysogenic virus
a virus that reproduces by inserting its nucleic acid into the genome of the host cell
bacteriophages
viruses that target and destroy bacteria
dissolved organic matter
organic molecules and cell debris released into water as a result of viral infections
detritus
particles of dead organic material
decay bacteria
bacteria that break down waste products and dead organic matter and release nutrients into the environment
cyanobacteria
photosynthetic bacteria that contain chlorophyll and phycocyanin (a bluish pigment).
phycoerythrin
a reddish pigment in some marine cyanobacteria
stromatolites
large calcareous mound formed by cyanobacteria
endolithic
organisms that burrow into calcareous rocks and coral skeletons
epiphytes
photosynthetic organisms that live on algae or plants
endophytes
organisms live inside algae
photoautotrophic
organisms that are able to make their own food through photosynthesis
chemosynthetic (chemoautotrophic)
organisms that derive energy from chemical compounds such as hydrogen sulfide
anoxic
an environment devoid of oxygen
nitrogen fixation
process of converting gaseous nitrogen into ammonium, which is a nitrogen source for many primary producers
algae
a diverse group of simple, mostly aquatic, mostly photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms
diatoms
unicellular organisms enclosed by cell walls made mostly of silica
frustule
the glassy shell of a diatom made mostly of silica
carotenoid
yellow and brown pigments that give diatoms their color
domoic acid
a potent toxin that accumulates in organisms that eat diatoms
auxospores
resistant stages of a diatom that allows the frustule to regain its size after asexual reproduction
diatomaceous ooze
thick deposits made of the glassy frustules of dead diatoms. Diatomaceous earth is mined and used in products such as pool filters and mild abrasives
dinoflagellates
a group of unicellular organisms with two flagella and a cell wall with plates made of cellulose
zooxanthellae
a group of dinoflagellates that live close to other organisms; most notably, they play a role in the formation of coral skeletons
silicoflagellates
characterized by a star-shaped internal skeleton of silica and two flagella; used to help date sediments
coccolithophorids
spherical cells covered with button-like structures called coccoliths that are made of calcium carbonate
cryptophytes
have two flagella and lack a skeleton; the chloroplasts are contained within a smaller eukaryotic cell that lives symbiotically inside the cryptophytes
protozoans
animal-like unicellular organisms that are primarily heterotrophic
foraminiferans
unicellular protozoans with a calcium carbonate shell that have pseudopodia they use to gather food
test
a calcium carbonate shell around a foraminiferan
pseudopodia
extension of the cytoplasm in foraminiferans that is used to trap diatoms and other food
radiolarians
planktonic marine protozoans that secrete spherical shells of silica with radiating spines
ciliates
protozoans that have cilia to aid in locomotion and feeding
tintinnids
common ciliates that drift in the water
loricas
vase-like cases of tintinnids
fungi
primarily multicellular heterotrophs that often feed on decomposing material
hyphae
long filaments of fungi
lichens
entities formed from the symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria