1. Algae Preview: Investigating the needs, diversity, and uses

2. Algae (aka Phytoplankton) Basics
“Phyton” – plant
“Planktos” - wanderer
Aquatic
Freshwater
Marine
Estuaries
Photoautotroph
Make their own energy
From the sunlight
Cannot be seen by the naked eye

3. Living Requirements PO-4 Si H2O External Factors Temperature
Sunlight Amount (Cloudy v. Clear Day)
Influences pH
Competitors/Predators

4. Ecological Importance
Primary Producer
Over 50% O2 Production
Staple for all aquatic food webs
Ecological Threats
Climate Change = Warmer Ocean Temperatures
Decrease in ocean density by 40% since 1950 (Nature)

5. Diversity! Anabaena: cyanobacteria, heterocyst
Palmodictyon: colonial, sheath
Eudorina: 32-cell ball, all flagella point out
Dinobryon: Golden algae, “fishey” blooms

6. Diversity! Scenedesmus: 4 cell colony, spines
Cyclotella: circular diatom, looks like a tire
Pediastrum: colonial, “lace”
Coccolithophores: calcium carbonate “shell”

7. Diversity! Microcystis: Blue green, Gull Lake cyano
Peridinium: dinoflagellate, “egg with a belt”

8. What’s Next!? Head to Gull Lake and the Lagoon to sample
Come back and ID common Michigan Species
Biofuel Preview
Game Time: Day In A Phytoplankton’s “Shoes”