Planktology

The Chaetognatha or chaetognaths (meaning bristle-jaws) are a phylum of predatory marine worms that are a major component of plankton worldwide. Commonly known as arrow worms, they are mostly pelagic; however about 20% of the known species are benthic, and can attach to algae and rocks. They are found in all marine waters, from surface tropical waters and shallow tide pools to the deep sea and polar regions. Most chaetognaths are transparent and are torpedo shaped, but some deep-sea species are orange. They range in size from .

A chemotroph is an organism that obtains energy by the oxidation of electron donors in their environments. These molecules can be organic (chemoorganotrophs) or inorganic (chemolithotrophs). The chemotroph designation is in contrast to phototrophs, which use photons. Chemotrophs can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic. Chemotrophs can be found in areas where electron donors are present in high concentration, for instance around hydrothermal vents.

300px|thumb|upright=1.0| Nannochloropsis microalgae 300px|thumb|upright=1.0|Collection of microalgae cultures in CSIRO's lab

Planktology is the study of plankton, various small drifting plants, animals and microorganisms that inhabit bodies of water. Planktology topics include primary production, energy flow and the carbon cycle.

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), is an organosulfur compound with the formula (CH3)2S+CH2CH2COO−. This zwitterionic metabolite can be found in marine phytoplankton, seaweeds, and some species of terrestrial and aquatic vascular plants. It functions as an osmolyte as well as several other physiological and environmental roles have also been identified. DMSP was first identified in the marine red alga Polysiphonia fastigiata.

thumb|upright=1.35 |right| Sea spray containing [[marine microorganisms can be swept high into the atmosphere and may travel the globe before falling back to earth.]]

pattern of movement used by some organisms living in the ocean and in lakes

Bacterioplankton refers to the bacterial component of the plankton that drifts in the water column. The name comes from the Ancient Greek word (), meaning "wandering" or "drifting", and , a Latin term coined in the 19th century by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg. They are found in both seawater and fresh water.

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ecological observation of high plankton diversity despite competition for few resources

upright=1.3|thumb|Photosynthetic picoplankton off the Marquesas Islands observed by [[epifluorescence microscopy (blue exciting light). Orange fluorescing dots correspond to Synechococcus cyanobacteria, red fluorescing dots to picoeukaryotes.]]

thumb|300px| Tomopteris, a holoplanktic [[polychaete worm with an unusual yellow bioluminescence that emanates from its parapodia]]

species of worm

The order Pennales is a proposed traditional subdivision of the heterokont algae known as diatoms. The order is named for the shape of the cell walls (or valves or frustules) of pennate diatoms, which are elongated in valve view. The valves may be linear or oval in shape, and usually bear bilaterally symmetrical ornamental patterns. These patterns are composed of a series of transverse lines (known as striae) that can appear as rows of dots when viewed with an optical microscope. Some pennate diatoms also exhibit a fissure along their longitudinal axis. This is known as a raphe, and is involve

regions of the ocean where the abundance of phytoplankton is low and fairly constant despite the availability of macronutrients

thumb|upright=1.35| ---- Fish produce many eggs, typically about 1mm across, and usually release them into the open water column

equipment to collect plankton

The axodines are a group of unicellular stramenopiles that includes silicoflagellate and rhizochromulinid algae, actinomonad heterotrophic flagellates and actinophryid heliozoa. Alternative classifications treat the dictyochophytes as heterokont algae, or as Chrysophyceae. Other overlapping taxonomic concepts include the Actinochrysophyceae, Actinochrysea or Dictyochophyceae sensu lato. The grouping was proposed on the basis of ultrastructural similarities, and is consistent with subsequent molecular comparisons.

mixture of dissolved mineral salts (and sometimes vitamins) that simulates seawater

biological water filter that uses light to grow algae which removes undesirable chemicals from aquarium water

any life form too small for the naked human eye to see that lives in a marine environment

Group of photosynthetic plankton