Transcript Primary Producers

Primary Producers
Plants and Plant-like
Organisms
Prokaryotes
• The simplest, most
primitive forms of
life
• No nucleus
• No membrane
bound organelles
Primary Producers
Bacteria
Protozoans
Protist
Flowering Plants
Multicellular Algae
Fungi
Bacteria
• Prokaryotic and
microscopic
• Single cell –usually
rod shaped w/cell
wall and plasma
membrane
• Lacks microscopically
visible organelles
• Smallest living
creatures on earth
Heterotrophic
Bacteria
• Heterotrophs – gather energy
from other creatures
• Decomposers –break down
waste and dead organic matter
• Found all over the ocean
• Especially abundant in bottom
sediment
Autotrophic
Bacteria
• Make their own organic compounds
• Some are photosynthetic – derive
energy from sunlight.
• Some are chemosynthetic – derive
energy from releasing energy stored
in chemical compounds.
• Found all over
Cyanobacteria
(Blue-Green Algae)
• Photosynthetic bacteria
• Contain chlorophyll and
phytcocyanin
• Photosynthesis takes
place on membranes
within the cell
• Usually microscopic but
visible in chains
• Some species form red
tides
Protista
• Unicellular algae which
is eukaryotic
• Plant-like and animallike
• Cells have membranes,
organelles and
chloroplasts
(photosynthetic)
• Lack flowers, true
leaves stems and roots
Diatoms - Protista
• Unicellular, may form
chains
• Unique “glassy” cell
wall
• Carotenoid pigments
• Live in temperate
and polar regions
• Planktonic - Slowly
glide on surfaces
• Reproduce asexually
• If conditions are
right, blooms may
occur
Dinoflagellates - Protista
• Unicellular and
planktonic
• 2 Flagella
• Most have stiff cell
wall,have chlorophyll
and can ingest food
• Found in warm and (2nd
most popular)cold
climates
• Reproduce asexually
• Some can produce light
(bioluminescence)
Protozoans
• Eukaryotic,
unicellular
• Animal like –
ingest food
• Some do
photosynthesize
• Single cell
• Inhabit water
everywhere
Foraminiferans - Protozoans
• Also called forams
• Single cell
• Have a shell made of
CaCO3
• Bottom dwellers,
either free or attached
• Foraminiferan Ooze Dead or detached
shells covering the
ocean bottom
Radiolarians • Planktonic
• Secrete shells
made of glass
• Spherical shape
• Inhabit ocean
ocean
• Radiolorian ooze
Protozoans
Ciliates - Protozoans
• Have hair like cilia
which is used to
move and feed
• Found in sea and
fresh water
• May live on or in
other water
organisms.
Fungi
• Eukaryotic
• Plant-like, but
unable to perform
photosynthesis
• Most are multicellular
• Many are
decomposers
• Some are
parasites
Multicellular Algae:
The Seaweeds
• Eukaryotic
• Complex structures
compared to
unicellular algae
• Can grow tall and
rise off the bottom
Structure of Seaweeds
Pneumatocyst
The
complete
body is
known as
the thallus.
Stipe
Holdfast
Green Algae –
Multicellular algae
• Mostly found in
freshwater,
some marine
• Mostly
unicellular
• Typically bright
green
Brown Algae –
Multicellular Algae
• Olive green to
dark brown color
• Mostly marine
• Most complex and
largest seaweeds
• Kelp forests
Giant Kelp
• Grow in cool, nutrient
rich waters
• Form of brown algae
• Can grow to be 100
feet in length
• Harvested to make
chemical to help
manufacture
medicines, plastics,
beauty aids, paper,
clothing, and
processed foods
Red Algae –
Multicellular Algae
• More species than green and brown
combined
• They have red pigments called
phycobilins which mask chlorophyll
• Most species are red
• Mostly marine but, some live in fresh
water
• Significant commercial importance to
humans
• Coraline algae – deposite CaCO3
Flowering Plants
• Angiosperms
– Have true leaves, stems
and roots
– Specialized tissue to
transport water nutrients
and food
– Mangroves and
seagrasses
– Usually only roots
covered by water at high
tide.
Mangroves
• Found in tropical
and subtropical
areas
• Tolerate a wide
range of salinity
• Protect the area
from storm surges,
erosion, and
tsunamis
• Wide variety of
types of
mangroves exist