C14 Primary Producers - Lecture notes 14 PDF

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True / False 1. There are planktonic forms of every major group of animals. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 14-2 Plankton Drift with Ocean Currents LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-2-1 - Differentiate plankton from nekton, and illustrate the diversity of planktonic organisms with examples. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Plankton include many different photosynthetic and chemosynthetic species that are responsible for contributing to ocean primary productivity. There are planktonic forms of every major group of animals, many of which play an important role in grazing phytoplankton and transferring energy to larger marine life. 2. Plankton are categorized by their visibility or by the methods used to collect them. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 14-3 Plankton Collection Methods Depend on the Organism's Size LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-3-1 - Describe how different sizes of plankton are collected from the ocean, and list the major physical oceanic analytical measurements used in planktonic biology. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Historically, plankton were categorized by their visibility or by the methods used to collect them. The recent discovery of astonishing numbers of submicroscopic phytoplankters, however, has stimulated the development of a more consistent system of classifying planktonic organisms by size. 3. Picoplankton number 100 million individuals in a liter of seawater, at all depths in the ocean. a. True b. False True ANSWER: REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-2 - List the eight major types of phytoplankton and their contributions to oceanic productivity. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Picoplankton have a typical size range of 0.2 to 2 micrometers. They are also found at all latitudes. 4. Diatoms have one of the most efficient energy conversion rates known, using approximately 55% of absorbed sunlight. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-4 - Distinguish among the chemical elements that compose the outer cell walls of coccolithophores and diatoms, and describe how these protect the organism. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: The structure of the diatom allows for a very efficient photosynthetic machine. Fully 55% of the energy of sunlight absorbed by a diatom can be converted into the energy of carbohydrate

chemical bonds, one of the most efficient energy conversion rates known. 5. Coccolithophores need less light to photosynthesize and can go deeper into the euphotic zone. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-4 - Distinguish among the chemical elements that compose the outer cell walls of coccolithophores and diatoms, and describe how these protect the organism. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Coccolithophores live near the ocean surface in brightly lit areas. Their translucent covering of coccoliths may act as a sunshade to prevent absorption of too much light. 6. Measuring biomass is not an efficient way to calculate primary productivity because productivity may be low in densely populated areas and high in sparsely populated areas. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 14-5 Lack of Nutrients and Light Can Limit Primary Productivity LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-5-2 - Demonstrate how the quantity and quality of light in ocean waters affects photosynthesis. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: A dense population with a high biomass would interfere with light penetration; so productivity would be low. In contrast, a sparse population with a low biomass might have ideal conditions for photosynthesis and produce carbohydrates at a rapid rate. Small animals might immediately consume this production and keep the biomass at low levels, but productivity would be high. 7. Nonconservative nutrients will be enriched after a plankton bloom. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 14-5 Lack of Nutrients and Light Can Limit Primary Productivity LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-5-1 - Assess how periods of high phytoplankton growth in surface waters can impact the concentration of nonconservative nutrients in deep waters. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: After a period of rapid phytoplankton growth, a plankton bloom, ocean surface waters are often depleted of nonconservative nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate, iron, and silicate. 8. Nutrients and carbon dioxide are limiting factors for the success of phytoplankton. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 14-5 Lack of Nutrients and Light Can Limit Primary Productivity LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-5-2 - Demonstrate how the quantity and quality of light in ocean waters affects photosynthesis. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Photosynthetic autotrophs require four main ingredients to produce carbohydrates: water, carbon dioxide, inorganic nutrients, and sunlight. Water is not a limiting factor in the ocean.

Carbon dioxide is almost never a limiting factor either because of its high solubility in water and because of the large quantity of carbon dioxide dissolved in the ocean. So the two potential limiting factors in marine primary productivity are the availability of nutrients and light. 9. Most phytoplankton stay near the surface to absorb red light. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 14-5 Lack of Nutrients and Light Can Limit Primary Productivity LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-5-2 - Demonstrate how the quantity and quality of light in ocean waters affects photosynthesis. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Chlorophyll is a green pigment and thus absorbs best in the red and violet wavelengths. Very little red light penetrates past 3 meters. Phytoplankton, except cyanobacteria (which can accept blue light), stay near the surface to absorb red light, and primary productivity is thus highest in this top part of the euphotic zone. 10. The compensation depth marks the depth of greatest productivity. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 14-6 Production Equals Consumption at the Compensation Depth LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-6-1 - Diagram the relationship between the rate of photosynthesis and water depth, and label the compensation depth and depth of greatest productivity. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: The compensation depth is the depth where photosynthesis exactly equals the consumption by respiration. 11. Dinoflagellates have a deeper compensation depth than diatoms. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 14-6 Production Equals Consumption at the Compensation Depth LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-6-1 - Diagram the relationship between the rate of photosynthesis and water depth, and label the compensation depth and depth of greatest productivity. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Because of their greater efficiency, diatoms have a deeper compensation depth than dinoflagellates. 12. Nearshore productivity is almost always more productive than open ocean productivity. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 14-7 Phytoplankton Productivity Varies with Local Conditions LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-7-1 - Illustrate the areas of the world ocean where primary productivity is highest and lowest on a map, and propose reasons for these differences. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand With some exceptions, the distribution of phytoplankton corresponds to the distribution of NOTES:

nutrients. Because of coastal upwelling and land runoff, nutrient levels are highest near the continents. Plankton are most abundant there, and productivity is highest. 13. Primary production is greatest right at the ocean surface. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 14-7 Phytoplankton Productivity Varies with Local Conditions LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-7-1 - Illustrate the areas of the world ocean where primary productivity is highest and lowest on a map, and propose reasons for these differences. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Too much light can also be inhibiting, however. You might think that productivity would be greatest right at the ocean surface, where light is brightest. It isn’t. Light there is often strong enough to overwhelm the photosynthetic chemistry of some photosynthesizers, especially diatoms. 14. Seaweeds are not plants. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 14-8 Seaweeds and Marine Plants are Diverse and Efficient Primary Producers LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-8-2 - Describe how seaweeds differ from land plants. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Though photosynthetic, seaweeds are technically not plants. Structurally and biochemically they are enough different from vascular plants to be classified as protistans, a diverse taxonomic group of comparatively simple organisms that includes most phytoplankton. 15. Seaweed-derived materials are found in a large variety of commercial materials including adhesives, salad dressing, and ice cream. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 14-8 Seaweeds and Marine Plants are Diverse and Efficient Primary Producers LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-8-4 - Identify many of the commercial uses for seaweeds. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Algin is a mucilaginous material that is used in many substances and products that we use every day. Multiple Choice 16. What is the primary method of energy acquisition for phytoplankton? a. oxygen metabolism b. chemosynthesis c. photosynthesis d. methane metabolism e. respiration c ANSWER: REFERENCES: 14-1 Primary Producers Synthesize Organic Material

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-1-1 - Define the major primary producers in the ocean, and assess their contributions to total marine primary production. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Phytoplankton are minute, drifting photosynthetic organisms that are responsible for producing between 90% and 96% of the surface ocean’s carbohydrates. 17. Phytoplankton are responsible for how much of the surface ocean's carbohydrate production? a. Between 30 and 36% b. Between 40 and 46% c. Between 50 and 56% d. Between 70 and 76% e. Between 90 and 96% ANSWER: e REFERENCES: 14-1 Primary Producers Synthesize Organic Material LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-1-1 - Define the major primary producers in the ocean, and assess their contributions to total marine primary production. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Phytoplankton are minute, drifting photosynthetic organisms that are responsible for producing between 90% and 96% of the surface ocean’s carbohydrates. 18. What are the units used to express primary production? a. pgC/m2/yr b. ngC/m2/yr c. µgC/m2/yr d. mgC/m2/yr e. gC/m2/yr ANSWER: e REFERENCES: 14-1 Primary Producers Synthesize Organic Material LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-1-1 - Define the major primary producers in the ocean, and assess their contributions to total marine primary production. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Primary productivity is expressed in grams of carbon bound into organic material per square meter of ocean surface area per year (gC/m2/yr). 19. What is required in the quantitative analysis of plankton? a. Both a count of the organisms and an estimate of the sampled volume of water b. Just a count of the organisms c. An estimate of the volume of sampled water d. Measurement of carbohydrates produced e. Measurement of the concentration of fixed carbon ANSWER: a REFERENCES: 14-3 Plankton Collection Methods Depend on the Organism's Size LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-3-1 - Describe how different sizes of plankton are collected from the ocean, and list the major physical oceanic analytical measurements used in planktonic biology. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Quantitative analysis of plankton requires both a count of the organisms caught in a plankton

net and an estimate of the sampled volume of water. 20. Phytoplankton are primarily classified as what type of organism? a. heterotroph b. organotroph c. photoheterotroph d. autotroph e. chemoheterotroph ANSWER: d REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-1 - Examine the contributions of phytoplankton to all life on Earth, and quantify the amount of carbohydrates they produce each year. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Phytoplankton are primarily autotrophic and produce glucose through photosynthesis (some may be chemoautotrophic and conduct chemosynthesis). In contrast, all types of heterotrophs acquire energy through consumption. 21. Planktonic organisms are classified by size. What is the range of plankton size categories? a. 0.02 micrometers to 2.0 micrometers b. 0.02 micrometers to 2000 micrometers c. 0.02 micrometers to 2.0 millimeters d. 0.02 micrometers to 2.0 meters e. 0.02 micrometers to 2000 meters ANSWER: d REFERENCES: 14-3 Plankton Collection Methods Depend on the Organism's Size LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-3-1 - Describe how different sizes of plankton are collected from the ocean, and list the major physical oceanic analytical measurements used in planktonic biology. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember The seven size categories of plankton range from 0.02 micrometers to 2.0 meters. NOTES: 22. Which organisms are mainly classified as picoplankton? a. diatoms b. cyanobacteria c. coccolithophores d. zooplankton e. dinoflagellates ANSWER: b REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-1 - Examine the contributions of phytoplankton to all life on Earth, and quantify the amount of carbohydrates they produce each year. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Many cyanobacteria fall into the picoplankton size class, which ranges from 0.2 to 2 micrometers. 23. What is the smallest size class of plankton? a. microplankton b. nanoplankton

c. femtoplankton d. picoplankton e. mesoplankton ANSWER: c REFERENCES: 14-3 Plankton Collection Methods Depend on the Organism's Size LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-3-1 - Describe how different sizes of plankton are collected from the ocean, and list the major physical oceanic analytical measurements used in planktonic biology. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Femtoplankton are the smallest plankton at 0.02 to 0.2 micrometers. This size class includes most viruses. 24. What planktonic group may account for up to 80% of all the photosynthetic activity in some parts of the open ocean? a. picoplankton b. nanoplankton c. microplankton d. mesoplankton e. megaplankton ANSWER: a REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-2 - List the eight major types of phytoplankton and their contributions to oceanic productivity. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Recent estimates suggest that picoplankton may account for up to 80% of all the photosynthetic activity in some parts of the open ocean, especially in the tropics, where surface nutrient concentrations are low. 25. What term is used to describe the exclusive microecosystem picoplankton have been discovered to operate in? a. "picoplankton economy" b. "microecosystem economy" c. "phytoplankton economy" d. "official economy" e. "black market economy" ANSWER: e REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-3 - Explain the difference between the "black market economy" of the microbial loop and the "official economy" of the food chain. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Picoplankton operate within a microecosystem that manufactures and consumes particulate and dissolved carbon in very high amounts. They function as a sort of ecological "black market economy" below the “official economy” of the relatively huge diatoms and dinoflagellates. 26. Which plankton group are the most productive photosynthetic organisms (apart from cyanobacteria)? a. dinoflagellates b. coccolithophores c. diatoms d. ciliates e. zooplankton

ANSWER: c REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-4 - Distinguish among the chemical elements that compose the outer cell walls of coccolithophores and diatoms, and describe how these protect the organism. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Apart from cyanobacteria, the most productive photosynthetic organisms in the plankton are the diatoms. Diatoms evolved comparatively recently and began to dominate phytoplanktonic productivity in the Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago. Their abundance and photosynthetic efficiency increased the proportion of free oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere. 27. What is a frustule? a. The rigid cell wall of a coccolithophore b. The rigid cell wall of a diatom c. A microscopic phage that attacks diatoms d. A small appendage on a dinoflagellate e. The photosynthetic center of cyanobacteria ANSWER: b REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-4 - Distinguish among the chemical elements that compose the outer cell walls of coccolithophores and diatoms, and describe how these protect the organism. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Diatoms have a rigid cell wall, or frustule, composed of patterns of perforations. As much as 95% of the mass of the frustule consists of silica. 28. Which plankton group operates at one of the most efficient energy conversion rates known? a. coccolithophores b. dinoflagellates c. cyanobacteria d. diatoms e. zooplankton ANSWER: d REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-4 - Distinguish among the chemical elements that compose the outer cell walls of coccolithophores and diatoms, and describe how these protect the organism. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Diatoms convert 55% of the energy of sunlight absorbed into the energy of carbohydrate chemical bonds, one of the most efficient energy conversion rates known. 29. What elemental compound comprises up to 95% of the mass of a diatom's cell wall? a. silica (SiO2) b. calcium carbonate c. magnesium carbonate d. calcium sulfate e. sodium bicarbonate ANSWER: a REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-4 - Distinguish among the chemical elements that compose the outer cell walls of coccolithophores and diatoms, and describe how these protect the organism.

OTHER: NOTES:

Bloom’s: Remember Diatoms have a rigid cell wall, or frustule, composed of patterns of perforations. As much as 95% of the mass of the frustule consists of silica (SiO2).

30. Which characteristic distinguishes most dinoflagellates from diatoms and coccolithophores? a. frustule b. auxospore c. flagella d. cilia e. coccoliths ANSWER: c REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-5 - Identify the main feature of dinoflagellates that distinguish them from other phytoplankton, and discuss how their rapid growth can negatively affect coastal waters. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Most dinoflagellates have two whiplike projections called flagella, in channels grooved in their protective outer cell wall of cellulose. One flagellum drives the organism forward, while the other causes it to rotate in the water. 31. Which genus of dinoflagellate is known for producing a particularly harmful algal bloom called a red tide? a. Prochlorococcus b. Emiliania c. Thalassiosira d. Ditylum e. Karenia ANSWER: e REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-5 - Identify the main feature of dinoflagellates that distinguish them from other phytoplankton, and discuss how their rapid growth can negatively affect coastal waters. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Harmful algal blooms dominated by dinoflagellates of the genus Karenia can be especially pesky. Asthma sufferers are in danger when these dinoflagellates dry on the beach and are blown inland. During a red tide, the presence of millions of dinoflagellates turns seawater brownish-red. 32. During times of high productivity which plankton are notable for making the surface water appear milky or chalky? a. coccolithophores b. dinoflagellates c. zooplankton d. cyanobacteria e. diatoms ANSWER: a REFERENCES: 14-4 Phytoplankton LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.14-4-4 - Distinguish among the chemical elements that compose the outer cell walls of coccolithophores and diatoms, and describe how these protect the organism. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Coccolithophores live near the ocean surface in brightly lit areas. In areas of high

coccolithophore productivity, most notably in the Mediterranean and Sargasso seas, their numbers occasionally become so great that the water appears milky or chalky. 33. Resear...