Productivity in the Oceans
An organism needs energy to survive. As organisms consume other types of organisms for food, they gain energy. But, what is the initial source of this energy? In this topic, you will learn about autotrophs, or primary producers, and how they create energy from sunlight or venting chemicals. Plankton are an important source of energy through primary production, so you will examine several types of plankton and what factors limit their growth.
Essential Questions
- What is a primary producer?
- What is photosynthesis?
- How does photosynthesis relate to respiration?
- What is respiration?
- What is chemosynthesis?
- What is the product of primary production?
- What are diatoms, dinoflagellates, coccolothopores, silicoflagellates, and picoplankton?
- What are the limiting factors of ocean primary production?
- How do nutrients and light affect primary production?