GENERALIZED PLANKTON CLASSIFICATION

PHYTOPLANKTON:

I. KINGDOM MONERA: Single celled organisms without membrane-bounded nucleus, some in groups or chains

A. Cyanobacteria: Blue-green algae, all autotrophic

II.   KINGDOM PROTISTA: All Holoplankton, microscopic, mostly single celled organisms (Autotrophs / algae)

A.   Phylum Chrysophyta: Golden Brown and Yellow Algae, All Autotrophic

1.   Diatoms - important siliceous sediment contributors

2.   Coccolithophorids (Coccoliths) - important Calcareous sediment producers

B.   Phylum Dinophyta: fire algae, often bioluminescent, single cells with flagella

1.   Dinoflagellates - not important sediment contributors some autotrophic, some heterotrophic, some are both, usually considered phytoplankton

ZOOPLANKTON : All Holoplankton, microscopic, mostly single celled organisms (heterotrophs / protozoa)

II.   KINGDOM PROTISTA: All Holoplankton

A.    Phylum Sarcodina - single cell organisms

1. Foraminifera (Forams) - important calcareous sediment producers

2. Radiolaria (Radiolarians) - important siliceous sediment producers

III. KINGDOM ANIMALIA:

A.   Phylum Arthropoda - paired, jointed appendages

1.   Class Crustacea (Crustaceans) Holoplankton Members:

a. Copepopds Both are herbivorous, not important sediment producers

b. Euphausiids (Krill)

•  MEROPLANKTON - Temporary Plankton from most other Phylums

(i.e. fish, clams, snails, crabs, barnacles, worms, lobsters, starfish, sea urchins)