Marine Ecology Unit 3 Flashcard Review

Front

What are organisms that drift or weakly swim in water, largely dependent on water currents?

Back

Plankton

Front

What is an organism that cannot synthesize its own food and derives nourishment from other organisms?

Back

Heterotroph

Front

Which of the following is NOT a type of zooplankton: krill, copepods, dinoflagellates, jellies?

Back

Dinoflagellates

Front

What are the silica-coated organisms known for their unique cell walls?

Back

Diatoms

Front

What group of plankton do the larvae of crabs and krill belong to?

Back

Zooplankton

Front

What is the primary role of phytoplankton in marine ecosystems?

Back

They are primary producers, converting sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.

Front

What is the difference between holoplankton and meroplankton?

Back

Holoplankton spend their entire life cycle as plankton, while meroplankton are only plankton during their larval stage.

Front

What are the main types of plankton?

Back

Phytoplankton, zooplankton, and bacterioplankton.

Front

What is the significance of zooplankton in the marine food web?

Back

They serve as a crucial food source for larger marine animals, including fish and whales.

Front

What are dinoflagellates known for?

Back

They are a type of plankton that can be photosynthetic and are known for causing harmful algal blooms.