by Rick O'Connor | Feb 14, 2025
With this article we will shift from the microscopic creatures of the Gulf of Mexico to the macroscopic ones – ones you can see without a microscope. We will begin with the simplest and most primitive of macroscopic creatures – the seaweeds.
Many locals see the grass washed ashore along the Intracoastal Waterway and call this seaweed, but it is in fact seagrass. Seaweed differs from seagrass in that they are not true plants. True plants are vascular – meaning they have a series of “veins” running through their body called xylem and phloem. These veins move water and material throughout the body – similar to the arteries and veins of an animal. But seaweeds lack this “circulatory” system, rather they absorb water through their tissues and must live in the water environment to do this. Seaweeds lack leaves, stems, and roots. They do not produce seeds or flowers, but they do require sunlight and nutrients and conduct photosynthesis as true plants do. When I was in college seaweed was considered simple plants – just nonvascular ones. Today biologists believe they are too simple to be considered plants and thus are a group existing between the microscopic phytoplankton and the true vascular plants we know from our lawns and forests. They are often called algae as well as seaweed.
Mats of Sargassum on a south Florida Beach.
Photo: University of Florida
Biologists divided the seaweeds into divisions based on their color, which is determined by the photosynthetic pigments they have for photosynthesis. Compared to my college days, the classification of green algae is quite complex. The entire group was once placed in the Division Chlorophyta. Today, most sources consider only the marine forms of green algae in the group Chlorophyta, with numerous other groups consisting of thousands of species. Most green algae live in freshwater and are believed to be the group that led to the land plants we are familiar with. Their photosynthetic pigments include chlorophyll and a and b but also carotene and xanthophyll. The pigments are dominated by the chlorophylls – hence their green color – and the ratio of chlorophyll to carotene and xanthophyll is the same as the plants you find in your yard – hence the argument they led to the evolution of land plants.
Green algae – or any of the seaweeds – are not as common along the northern Gulf of Mexico as you find on other coasts. Not having true roots, stems, or leaves, seaweeds must attach themselves to the seafloor using a suction cup type structure called a holdfast. To attach, the holdfast must have a rock of some type. Along the rocky shores of Maine and California, they are quite common. Even with the limestone rock of south Florida you can find these. But the fine quartz sand of the northern Gulf of Mexico is not as inviting to them. That said, we do find them here and most are found on man-made structures such as jetties, seawalls, and artificial reefs – I found one attached to a beer can.
Of all of the green algae that exist in Florida, I have only encountered three. One is called “sea lettuce” in the genus Ulva. Attached to rock jetties and seawalls, it looks just like lettuce and is beautiful, brilliant green in color. It grows to about seven inches in height and is used as a food source in different countries. It can become a problem if local waters are high in nutrients due to pollution from land sources. It will grow abundantly, reducing habitat for other species, and wash ashore during storms where it breaks down releasing gases that can be toxic to shore life and humans. I first encountered it growing on the rock jetties at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, but it does grow on local hard structures.
Sea Lettuce.
Photo: University of California
“Dead Man’s Fingers” – Codium – is another green algae I first encountered it on the jetties of St. Andrews. The thick finger-like projections of this seaweed extending from the rocks did resemble a glove – or the fingers of a dead man within the rocks. Some species around the world are used for food. But I could not find any references that it is here.
“Deadman’s Fingers”.
Photo: iNaturalist
The third species of green algae I have seen locally is known as the “Mermaids Wine Glass” – Acetabularia. This beautiful seaweed is relatively small and does resemble a wine, or martini glass. They are quite abundant in south Florida and is the one I found growing on a beer can submerged in Santa Rosa Sound.
“Mermaid’s Wineglass”
Photo: Project Noah
Though seaweeds in general are harder to find along the northern Gulf coast, they are fun to search for and do play a role as primary producers here.
References
Green Algae. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_algae.
Deadman’s Fingers. Monterey Bay Aquarium. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/dead-mans-fingers.
Introduction to Green Algae. University of California/Berkley. https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/greenalgae/greenalgae.html.
Ulva Lactuca. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulva_lactuca.
by Rick O'Connor | Jan 24, 2025
What are meroplankton? How do they differ from regular plankton?
In the plankton world there are those that are plankton (drifters) their whole lives – holoplankton – and those who are plankton for only part of their lives – meroplankton. Most know the meroplankton as larva – the early stages of large creatures like fish, crabs, and shrimp. When you pull a plankton net through the waters of the Gulf of Mexico you will collect a lot of meroplankton – and yes… they are food for the plankton feeders just as the other forms of plankton are. Like most of the holoplankton, most are microscopic and swim through the water using cilia or flagella. Like copepods, they are multicellular and are considered true animals. Here are a few that you could find in a plankton sample…
Planula larva
These are the larva of jellyfish, sea anemones, and corals. They are ciliated cells that move through the water column until they metamorphose into the adult forms. Most will settle out on hard substrate on the seafloor and develop into a flower-like structure called a polyp. Some grow into adult polyps – like sea anemones and corals – while others will go through a second stage and become swimming medusa – the jellyfish.
Trochophore larva
This is another ciliated larval form that is the first stage of some mollusk, annelid worms, and nemertean worms.
Veliger larva
This is a ciliated larval form of several mollusk. Those that go through the veliger stage begin as trochophores. Some go through the trochophore stage while in the egg, others hatch and go through the trochophore before metamorphosizing into the veliger. The veliger stage will develop the characteristic mollusk shell, and many will develop a foot which can be used in locomotion on the seafloor searching for suitable habitat.
The veliger stage of many mollusks.
Photo: NOAA.
Nauplius larva
This is the first stage of a crustacean. It is very hard to tell which crustacean the nauplius will become but they do resemble crustaceans with segmented body parts and an exoskeleton. Most crustaceans will molt into the zoea stage, and some then into a megalops stage, before becoming the adult.
This is the megalops stage of a crab.
Photo: University of California Irvine.
Bipinnaria larva
Another ciliated larval form that will eventually become an echinoderm – starfish, sea urchin, sand dollar.
Bipannaria are the larval stage of starfish and sand dollars.
Photo: NOAA.
Ichthyoplankton
Most of the fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico begin life as meroplankton as well – these are called “ichthyoplankton” and are quite abundant in a plankton sample. Even large fish, such billfish and swordfish, begin life at this stage.
Most fish in the northern Gulf begin their lives as tiny plankton.
Photo: NOAA.
The first nine post in this series have been about microscopic creatures found in the northern Gulf. It goes without saying that there are literally thousands of other forms of plankton we did not mention. It is also important to mention how important these creatures are to the health of the Gulf and why they were as much of a concern during the oil spill as were dolphins, sea turtles, and sea birds. As the plankton go… so goes the Gulf. We will now turn our attention to the larger creatures – ones you do not need a microscope to see.
by Rick O'Connor | Jan 17, 2025
So far in this series we have been discussing microscopic creatures in the northern Gulf of Mexico that are single celled – though many may be linked together in chains. In this article we will begin discussing microscopic creatures that are multicellular.
When you do a plankton tow in the northern Gulf, and have a look under the microscope, you will notice most of the moving/swimming plankton are these bug-looking creatures scientists call copepods. The Latin origin of their name (oar-foot) comes from the motion of their swimming legs, which resembles rowing with an oar. They twist and turn all within the field of view, moving quite fast. You will not miss them.
One of the most common creatures in the northern Gulf. The copepod.
Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
It has been stated that the copepods produce some of the largest biomass in the oceans, there are TONS of them within the water column. They swim all through the water column feeding on the phytoplankton we have already discussed in this series. They play a very important role in the food chain connecting the photosynthetic phytoplankton – the “grasses of the sea” – with the consuming animals of the northern Gulf. It has been stated that the copepods are most likely in every creature’s food chain – making them one of the most important members of the northern Gulf of Mexico community. In addition to connecting the marine animals to the primary producers, they also are important at removing carbon from the surface waters of the oceans, reducing the negative impacts of excessive carbon in the atmosphere.
As mentioned, they are multicellular but still microscopic. We also mentioned they look like bugs and are in the Phylum Arthropoda along with the true bugs. Arthropods have jointed legs, antennae, and an exoskeleton that must be shed during growth – and this is the case with the copepods. They are in the Subphylum Crustacea – indicating they are related to shrimps and crabs. Most are between 1-2mm in length but can reach lengths of 10mm and large to be seen in a glass of sea water as flecks darting about. Most have a single compound eye and, along with their antennae, can detect the movements of both predators and prey.
Many larger creatures of the northern Gulf feed on them directly – such as the plankton feeding fish and whales. But most include them as a lower part of their food chain. Copepods can sense the presence of such predators and are quite fast swimmers. They have been clocked at 295 feet in one hour – which is equivalent to a human swimming at 50mph!
Though you will never see them when you visit the beaches, they are one of the most abundant, and ecologically important, creatures in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
References
Copepods. National Museum of Natural History. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/invertebrate-zoology/research/copepods.
Copepod. Monterey Bay Aquarium. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/copepod.
Walter, T.C.; Boxshall, G. (2024). World of Copepods Database. Accessed at https://www.marinespecies.org/copepoda on 2024-11-17. doi:10.14284/356.
by Rick O'Connor | Jan 10, 2025
After two articles on protozoans, we now know what these animal-like creatures are. We have discussed some that move by flagella, and others than move by pseudopodia. The last group by short flagella called cilia.
Ciliates are often covered with these small hair-like structures and can move them relatively fast. Thus, they swim MUCH faster than flagellates, and both are faster than the amoeboid sarcodinids.
They are easy, and not easy, to identify under a microscope. You will be examining the slide seeing diatoms and dinoflagellates scattered across the screen, an occasional flagellate slowly swim by, the very slow fried egg-looking amoeboid slime through, and then a dot/cell will zip by at high speed. That was a ciliate. Easy to identify because anything moving that fast is a ciliate. Hard to identify because you have NO idea which one. Under the heat of the light, they will eventually slow down, and you can better see them for identification.
Ciliated cell found in soil.
Photo: Florida Atlantic University
Most ciliates have an open mouth and what is called an oral groove. This groove acts like a throat leading the food to the food vacuole – where it is digested. Waste will live the protozoan either through the cell membrane, or back out the mouth. At the opening if the mouth are numerous cilia that generate a current sucking up food like a vacuum cleaner and moving it down the oral groove. Most have many nuclei which are easily seen under the scope. They move through the water column collecting food and moving it down the food chain. Most lack shells, so do not contribute to the sediments of the ocean floor or on our beaches.
Up to this point in the series we have been discussing the microscopic phytoplankton and zooplankton found in the Gulf of Mexico. These are creatures few know about, nor do they understand their importance in cycling food, energy, nutrients, and other chemical processes that keep the ecology of the northern Gulf of Mexico in balance. But is now time to turn our attention to the larger – macroscopic – creatures of this world. We begin with seaweed.
References
Yaeger, R.G. 1996. Protozoa: Structure, Classification, Growth, and Development. Chapter 77. Medical Microbiology, 4th edition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/#A4082.
by Rick O'Connor | Dec 20, 2024
In our last article we asked the question – “what are protozoans?” As we mentioned then the breakdown of the word includes “proto” which means “before”, and “zoan” which refers to animals. These are the “before animals” – meaning animal-like creatures BEFORE there were true animals.
They are single celled creatures that lack a cell wall and chlorophyll – animal-like – but they are only single celled – so, not true animals. Being animal-like means they cannot produce their own food as the diatoms, dinoflagellates, seaweeds, and true plants do. Rather, they must consume food as animals do. Some feed on diatoms and dinoflagellates. Some feed on decaying organic matter on the seafloor. Some are parasitic and feed off of a host organism. Some feed on other protozoans. And some do a combination. But they are all consumers.
The group is classified into six phyla mostly based on how they move. One subphylum is the Sarcodinids – which move using blobby extensions of their cytoplasm called pseudopods. Under a microscope they would resemble a fried egg oozing across the slide. They are NOT fast. They can use these pseudopods not only for moving but for gathering food. I remember watching them under a scope in college. They slowly oozed across the slide engulfing most other protozoans and phytoplankton they encountered. They were like the “sharks” of the micro-world. Many live on the seafloor, or within the sediments themselves. Some are parasites. And there are a few planktonic forms. Their primary role in the marine system is moving energy through the food chain and cleaning up the environment. As with the flagellates, there two common groups in marine waters – the foraminiferans and the radiolarians.
The first true oceanographic research cruise was the voyage of the HMS Challenger in 1872. The chief scientist on this first expedition was Charles Wyville Thomson, a marine geologist and one very interested in what was on the ocean floor. During the first leg of the voyage – from Europe to the America’s – they collected sediment samples several time each day. By far most of the ocean floor was made of what was called “globigerina ooze”. Globigerinids are a group of marine foraminiferans. They produce a calcium carbonate shell that is chambered. Under a microscope they look very much like seashells. They are part of the plankton layers in the ocean – what would be called “zooplankton”. Many possess spines on their shells to help reduce sinking. When they die their shells fall to the seafloor. Over time they formed the thick layers of sediment Thomson witnessed and called “ooze”. He also discovered that most of the ocean floor is covered with these microscopic shells. The Gulf of Mexico is no different. Most formaminiferans live on the seafloor and contribute to the sediment layers from there. One group forms mats on rocks that look pink in color and are responsible for the pink sands found in Bermuda.
Artist image of Globigerina.
Image: NOAA
Another group of shelled amoeboid protozoans are the radiolarians. Under the microscope these are some of the most beautiful creatures you will find in the northern Gulf. Like diatoms, their shells are made of silica and look like glass. Most have spines and shapes that make them resemble snowflakes – truly beautiful. Like foraminiferans, when they die their shells settle on the seafloor and contribute to the ooze layers. Radiolarian ooze has been found as deep as 12,000 feet.
The snowflake-like shells of radiolarians.
Image: Wikipedia.
These small, microscopic amoeba like animals play an important role in moving food and energy through the Gulf. Their discovery on the seafloor helped marine geologists better understand how our oceans formed and how they have changed over time. On other beaches around the world, they have contributed to sands giving some beaches very unique colors – which are popular with tourists. They are an unknown, but important part of the marine community in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
References
Yaeger, R.G. 1996. Protozoa: Structure, Classification, Growth, and Development. Chapter 77. Medical Microbiology, 4th edition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/#A4082.
by Rick O'Connor | Nov 22, 2024
You may ask – “what are protozoans?” It’s a good question. The breakdown of the word includes “proto” which means “before”, and “zoan” which refers to animals. These are the “before animals” – meaning animal-like creatures BEFORE there were true animals.
They are single celled creatures that lack a cell wall and chlorophyll – animal-like – but they are only single celled – so, not true animals. Being animal-like means they cannot produce their own food as the diatoms, dinoflagellates, seaweeds, and true plants do. Rather, they must consume food as animals do. Some feed on diatoms and dinoflagellates. Some feed on decaying organic matter from the seafloor. Some are parasitic and feed off a host organism. Some feed on other protozoans. And some do a combination. But they are all consumers.
The group is classified into six phyla mostly based on how they move. One subphylum is the Mastiogophorans – which move using flagella. Flagella are long whip-like tails that extend from the cell and can “twirled” in a fashion that will help the cell move around in the environment. Flagellates can have one or many flagella. Most are not free-swimming in the water column but live on the bottom or are parasitic. Two groups common in marine waters are the choanoflagellates and the coccolithophores.
Choanoflagellates are cells that usually possess one flagella that is protected by a funnel shaped structure called a collar. They are often called “collar cells”. Though found in many benthic environments they are most famous for their role in sponges. Here they live within the walls of the sponge, twirling their flagella to generate a current that draws water into the sponge for feeding. The currents generated by the choanoflagellates also move waste and reproductive gametes out of the sponge into the environment.
Coccolithophores are flagellated protozoans covered by calcium carbonate plates. These are more common in the plankton of the Gulf of Mexico and play an important role in the carbon cycle. They convert CO2 into calcium carbonate, and other forms of carbon, reducing the CO2 levels in both the atmosphere and ocean, that plays a role in ocean acidification.
Coccolithophores are flagellated creatures covered in calcium carbonate plates.
Image: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
An interesting note here… when I was in college, we studied the dinoflagellates in both marine botany AND marine invertebrate zoology. I was quite confused… are they “plant-like” or “animal-like”? They could not be both… When I asked my marine botany professor she was adamant, they were part of the “plant world”. But my marine invertebrate zoology professor felt the same – they were definitely in the animal world. They both mentioned this was why they were listed in their own phylum and agreed to disagree. Dinoflagellates (which we have already covered in this series) do photosynthesize, and they do consume other plankton. The same is true for coccolithophores. A quick look on the internet they were described as “phytoplankton” not “zooplankton”. I am including them here – and know they are called coccolithophores. I also know they are one of the creatures found in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
References
Yaeger, R.G. 1996. Protozoa: Structure, Classification, Growth, and Development. Chapter 77. Medical Microbiology, 4th edition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/#A4082.
