Introduction
The first section in our survey of life in the oceans is largely devoted to the plant-like organisms that inhabit the oceans. The oceans are populated with plant-like organisms that are different from those found on land. So different that biologist no longer refers to them as plants. With the exception of the bacteria, the organisms covered in the module are primary producers capable of using sunlight to carry on photosynthesis. We will be calling these phototrophs. Marine primary producers play a major role in maintaining life in the oceans. The seaweeds and unicellular algae provide habitat and food sources for a wide variety of marine organisms. The oxygen produced by these phototrophs is used by all living things on Earth. Finally, during this module we will be characterizing monerans, diatoms, dinoflagellates, and marine algae. The primary objective of these lessons will be to describe the structure, function, and behavior of these marine life forms.
The image on the right is of the Baltic Sea, along the coast of Sweden, blooming with an outbreak of cyanobacteria / blue-green algae. Credited in some reports to fertilizer runoff and warmer weather, the algae blooms are quite dramatic this year. They turn the water a neon color of blue-green with yellow-white filaments. The oceans are not homogenous masses. They consist of myriad uncharted regions of ecological diversity. In this module, you will learn about the vast diversity of bacteria and other simple marine organisms.
Click the link to learn more about satellite algal maps in the Baltic Sea.
Lessons covered in Module 4: Part 1: Simple Marine Organisms:
- Lesson 1: Bacteria Overview
- Lesson 2: Diatoms
- Lesson 3: Dinoflagellates
- Lesson 4: Major Groups of Marine Algae
- Lesson 5: Nutrition of Algae
- Lesson 6: Plankton: Biological Features
- Lesson 7: Plankton: Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming in Relation to Plankton
DoDEA Standards
- Standard: Mc: Relates the theory of biological evolution to geologic time and addresses speciation, biodiversity, natural selection, and biological classification.
- Indicator: Mc.1: Describes the scope of biological diversity in the marine environment and relationships among major groups of marine organisms.
- Standard: Md: Analyzes ecology as interrelationships of biotic and abiotic factors and explains the transfer of matter and energy within ecosystems.
- Indicator: Md.12: Provides examples of ecological factors that can allow greater diversity within a community.
Next steps after reading the information in this website:
When you have read all of the information on each page in the navigation menu in the website, please close or minimize that window and go back to Blackboard to complete the tasks for Module 4: Part 1: Simple Marine Organisms. To find the tasks, please do the following:
- Go back into the course.
- Click the classroom button on the left in the navigation menu in Blackboard.
- Click the folder called Module 4: Part 1: Simple Marine Organisms.
- Open the folder called, Your Tasks.
- Complete each task using top-down navigation. In other words, complete the task beginning with the first one in the list.
Now, please click the menu item in the navigation bar above under Lessons titled Bacteria to begin Lesson 1: Bacteria..
Photo Attribution
Description: Primordial sea of algae.
Photographer: Jurvetson
Source: Creative Commons