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Phyto and Zooplanktons Interrelation

Phytoplankton and zooplankton are essential components of aquatic ecosystems, with phytoplankton serving as primary producers and zooplankton as consumers that feed on them. Their complex interdependent relationship influences the abundance and distribution of both groups, impacting nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting ecosystem responses to environmental changes and for sustainable fisheries management.

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Shailendra Sahu
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5 views19 pages

Phyto and Zooplanktons Interrelation

Phytoplankton and zooplankton are essential components of aquatic ecosystems, with phytoplankton serving as primary producers and zooplankton as consumers that feed on them. Their complex interdependent relationship influences the abundance and distribution of both groups, impacting nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting ecosystem responses to environmental changes and for sustainable fisheries management.

Uploaded by

Shailendra Sahu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTRODUCTION :-

• Phytoplankton and zooplankton are critical components of


aquatic ecosystems, serving as the base of the food chain and
providing food for a wide range of organisms.
• Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that live in the upper
layers of the water column and use photosynthesis to produce
organic matter, while zooplankton are microscopic animals that
feed on phytoplankton and other small organisms.
• The relationship between phytoplankton and zooplankton is
complex and interdependent, with each group influencing the
other's abundance, growth, and distribution.
• Understanding the interactions between phytoplankton and
zooplankton is crucial for predicting how aquatic ecosystems
will respond to environmental changes such as nutrient
pollution, climate change, and ocean acidification.
WHAT ARE PHYTOPLANKTONS?
• Phytoplankton are microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that
live in aquatic environments, including oceans, lakes, and rivers.
• They are classified as plants, but unlike terrestrial plants, they
do not have roots, stems, or leaves.
• Phytoplankton are unicellular or multicellular and can range in
size from less than a micrometer to several millimeters.
• They are responsible for a large portion of the world's primary
production, producing organic matter through photosynthesis.
• Phytoplankton are at the base of the aquatic food chain,
providing food for a wide range of organisms, including
zooplankton, fish, and marine mammals.
• They play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate, as they
absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen
through photosynthesis.
FIG:PHYTOPLANKTO
NS
WHAT ARE ZOOPLANKTONS?
• Zooplankton are small, free-floating animals that live in aquatic
environments, including oceans, lakes, and rivers.
• They are typically less than a few millimeters in size, and are classified as
either holoplankton (which spend their entire lives as plankton) or
meroplankton (which spend only part of their lives as plankton).
• Zooplankton are diverse and include a wide range of animals, such as
copepods, krill, jellyfish, and larval fish.
• They feed on phytoplankton, other zooplankton, and organic matter, and are
an important part of the aquatic food chain.
• Zooplankton play a crucial role in the cycling of nutrients and carbon in
aquatic ecosystems, as they consume and excrete organic matter and
nutrients.
• Some species of zooplankton, such as copepods, are important for fisheries
and aquaculture, as they serve as a food source for commercial fish species.
• They are also important for biogeochemical cycling and carbon
sequestration in the oceans, as they play a role in the vertical transport of
organic matter and carbon from the surface waters to deeper waters.
FIG:ZOOPLANKTO
NS
PHYTOPLANKTON-ZOOPLANKTON INTERACTION:-
• Phytoplankton are the primary producers in aquatic ecosystems
and provide a food source for zooplankton.
• Zooplankton consume phytoplankton and other zooplankton, and
are a critical link in the aquatic food chain.
• Phytoplankton and zooplankton have a complex relationship, where
the abundance of one can affect the abundance of the other.
• When phytoplankton are abundant, zooplaAnkton populations can
increase due to the availability of food, and vice versa.
• The ratio of phytoplankton to zooplankton biomass can affect the
cycling of nutrients and carbon in aquatic ecosystems.
• Zooplankton grazing can also affect the size and composition of
phytoplankton communities, as they preferentially consume certain
species and sizes of phytoplankton.
• Some species of zooplankton have a mutualistic relationship with
phytoplankton, where they consume smaller, less desirable
phytoplankton and allow larger, more desirable phytoplankton to thrive.
• Understanding the interactions between phytoplankton and
zooplankton is important for predicting and managing changes in
aquatic ecosystems, and for maintaining sustainable fisheries and
aquaculture practices.

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