Viruses
-Non-cellular infectious agents with 2 basic characteristics
-Not capable of reproducing without a host structure
-Nucleic acid core- can be DNA or RNA
-Capsid(protein coat)
-Common in marine waters
-They can infect: bacteria, plankton, fish, sea turtles, and marine mammals
-Lysis of viral infected cells spills contents and releases large amounts of organic matter that can be used by other organisms(dissolved organic matter or DOM)
-Not capable of reproducing without a host structure
-Nucleic acid core- can be DNA or RNA
-Capsid(protein coat)
-Common in marine waters
-They can infect: bacteria, plankton, fish, sea turtles, and marine mammals
-Lysis of viral infected cells spills contents and releases large amounts of organic matter that can be used by other organisms(dissolved organic matter or DOM)
Prokaryotes
-Bacteria and archaea
-Characteristics of prokaryotes include: No nucleus, single circular chromosome, most have a cell wall, great metabolic diversity
-Extremophiles- found in extreme environments like hydrothermal vents and salt flats
-Variety of metabolic types
-Widely distributed in the marine community
-They can tolerate wide ranges in: temperature, salinity, and even dessication
-Cell walls
-Ensure the recycling of nutrients in detritus
-Most abundant life form on Earth
-Epiphytes(on seagrasses/seaweeds) and endophytes(in algae)
-Stromatolites- calcareous mounds formed by cyanobacteria
-Red tides- planktonic species multiply rapidly and contain red pigment. Can be devastating to ecosystems
-Endolithic species burrow into rocks and coral or form thick, dark crusts on wave-splashed rocky coasts
-Prochlorococcus- Most abundant marine organism
-Yellow-brown from photosynthetic pigments
-Shell of silica called a frusture
-Most important primary producer on Earth
Most solitary and uni-cellular, but some are colonial
-Most are photosynthetic, some can ingest particles
-Each species has unique shape reinforced by plates of cellulose
-2 flagella in grooves on body for motion
-Also reproduce by cellular division
-Some are bio-luminescent
-Live in a symbiotic relationship with corals, sea anemones and other organisms
-This is a result of high levels of nutrients in water
-These blooms can be harmful to marine organisms and even people at times
-Characteristics of prokaryotes include: No nucleus, single circular chromosome, most have a cell wall, great metabolic diversity
- Archaea
-Extremophiles- found in extreme environments like hydrothermal vents and salt flats
-Variety of metabolic types
-Widely distributed in the marine community
-They can tolerate wide ranges in: temperature, salinity, and even dessication
- Bacteria
-Cell walls
-Ensure the recycling of nutrients in detritus
-Most abundant life form on Earth
- Cyanobacteria
-Epiphytes(on seagrasses/seaweeds) and endophytes(in algae)
-Stromatolites- calcareous mounds formed by cyanobacteria
-Red tides- planktonic species multiply rapidly and contain red pigment. Can be devastating to ecosystems
-Endolithic species burrow into rocks and coral or form thick, dark crusts on wave-splashed rocky coasts
-Prochlorococcus- Most abundant marine organism
- Diatoms
-Yellow-brown from photosynthetic pigments
-Shell of silica called a frusture
-Most important primary producer on Earth
Most solitary and uni-cellular, but some are colonial
- Dinoflagellates
-Most are photosynthetic, some can ingest particles
-Each species has unique shape reinforced by plates of cellulose
-2 flagella in grooves on body for motion
-Also reproduce by cellular division
-Some are bio-luminescent
-Live in a symbiotic relationship with corals, sea anemones and other organisms
- Algal Blooms
-This is a result of high levels of nutrients in water
-These blooms can be harmful to marine organisms and even people at times