All Topics  
Coccolithophore

 
Coccolithophore

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Coccolithophore
 
 
  Topics Coccolithophore Topic Home

Coccolithophores (also called coccolithophorids) are single-celled algae
Algae

Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms. The largest and most complex marine forms are called seaweeds....
, protist
Protist

Protists ; eukaryote microorganisms. Historically, protists were treated as the kingdom Protista but this group is no longer recognized in modern taxonomy....
s and phytoplankton
Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of the plankton community. The name comes from the Greek language words phyton, or "plant", and p?a??t?? , meaning "wanderer" or "drifter"....
 belonging to the division haptophyte
Haptophyte

The haptophytes, classed either as the Prymnesiophyta or Haptophyta, are a phylum of algae. The chloroplasts are pigmented similarly to those of the heterokonts, such as golden algae, but the structure of the rest of the cell is different, so it may be that they are a separate line whose chloroplasts are derived from similar endosymbionts....
s. They are distinguished by special calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate

Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CalciumCarbonOxygen3. It is a common substance found as Rock in all parts of the world, and is the main component of seashells, snails, and eggshells....
 plates (or scales) of uncertain function called coccolith
Coccolith

File:Gephyrocapsa oceanica color.jpgCoccoliths are individual plate of calcium carbonate formed by coccolithophores which are arranged around them in a coccosphere....
s (calcareous nannoplankton), which are important microfossils
Micropaleontology

File:Microfossils.JPGMicropaleontology is that branch of paleontology which studies microfossils. Microfossils are fossils generally not larger than four millimeters, and commonly smaller than one millimeter, the study of which requires the use of light or electron microscopy....
. Coccolithophores are almost exclusively marine
Marine (ocean)

Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology....
 and are found in large numbers throughout the surface euphotic zone
Photic zone

The photic zone or euphotic zone is the depth of the water in a lake or ocean, that is exposed to sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to occur....
 of the ocean
Ocean

An ocean is a major body of Seawater, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a World Ocean that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas....
. An example of a globally-significant coccolithophore is Emiliania huxleyi
Emiliania huxleyi

Emiliania huxleyi, often abbreviated to simply "EHUX", is a species of coccolithophore with a global distribution from the tropics to subarctic waters....
.

The arrangement of coccolithophores are as spherical cells about 15-100 micrometres across, enclosed by calcareous plates, coccoliths, about 2-25 micrometres across.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Coccolithophore'
Start a new discussion about 'Coccolithophore'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Coccolithophores (also called coccolithophorids) are single-celled algae
Algae

Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms. The largest and most complex marine forms are called seaweeds....
, protist
Protist

Protists ; eukaryote microorganisms. Historically, protists were treated as the kingdom Protista but this group is no longer recognized in modern taxonomy....
s and phytoplankton
Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of the plankton community. The name comes from the Greek language words phyton, or "plant", and p?a??t?? , meaning "wanderer" or "drifter"....
 belonging to the division haptophyte
Haptophyte

The haptophytes, classed either as the Prymnesiophyta or Haptophyta, are a phylum of algae. The chloroplasts are pigmented similarly to those of the heterokonts, such as golden algae, but the structure of the rest of the cell is different, so it may be that they are a separate line whose chloroplasts are derived from similar endosymbionts....
s. They are distinguished by special calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate

Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CalciumCarbonOxygen3. It is a common substance found as Rock in all parts of the world, and is the main component of seashells, snails, and eggshells....
 plates (or scales) of uncertain function called coccolith
Coccolith

File:Gephyrocapsa oceanica color.jpgCoccoliths are individual plate of calcium carbonate formed by coccolithophores which are arranged around them in a coccosphere....
s (calcareous nannoplankton), which are important microfossils
Micropaleontology

File:Microfossils.JPGMicropaleontology is that branch of paleontology which studies microfossils. Microfossils are fossils generally not larger than four millimeters, and commonly smaller than one millimeter, the study of which requires the use of light or electron microscopy....
. Coccolithophores are almost exclusively marine
Marine (ocean)

Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology....
 and are found in large numbers throughout the surface euphotic zone
Photic zone

The photic zone or euphotic zone is the depth of the water in a lake or ocean, that is exposed to sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to occur....
 of the ocean
Ocean

An ocean is a major body of Seawater, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a World Ocean that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas....
. An example of a globally-significant coccolithophore is Emiliania huxleyi
Emiliania huxleyi

Emiliania huxleyi, often abbreviated to simply "EHUX", is a species of coccolithophore with a global distribution from the tropics to subarctic waters....
.

The arrangement of coccolithophores are as spherical cells about 15-100 micrometres across, enclosed by calcareous plates, coccoliths, about 2-25 micrometres across. Coccolithophores that are alive today have two golden-brown shaded pigment
Pigment

A pigment is a material that changes the color of light it Reflection as the result of selective color absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which the material itself emits light....
 marks in their cell with the nucleus located between them. The pigments are home to the chlorophyll which carry out photosynthesis
Photosynthesis

File:Seawifs global biosphere.jpgPhotosynthesis is a metabolic pathway that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight....
. In order to obtain the sunlight needed for photosynthesis, coccolithophores live near the surface of the ocean. Although they have the capability to swim, coccolithophores generally float in the ocean currents. But, they may swim in order to keep a stable position within the water column to soak up sunlight and remain in a nutrient rich environment.

Due to their microscopic
Microscopy

Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view samples or objects. There are three well-known branches of microscopy, optical microscopy, electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy....
 size and the broad distribution of many of their taxa, coccoliths have become very important as index fossil
Index fossil

Index fossils are fossils used to define and identify geologic columns . They work on the premise that, although different sediments may look different depending on the conditions under which they were laid down, they may include the remains of the same species of fossil....
s for solving various stratigraphic
Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary rock and layered volcanic rocks....
 problems. Microfossils are sensitive indicators of changes in the temperature and salinity
Salinity

Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. Salinity in Australian English and North American English may also refer to the salt in soil ....
 of the ocean and sea
SEA

See also: Sea and seasThe three-letter acronym SEA may refer to:People/organizations/businesses*Scientists and Engineers for America, a pro-science political advocacy group....
 surface water. The quantitative analysis of calcareous
Calcite

Calcite is a Carbonate minerals and the most stable Polymorphism of calcium carbonate . The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite....
 nannoplankton assemblages is being employed to reveal such changes. They also produce alkenones, biomarkers of great utility in reconstructing ancient temperatures.

Coccolithophores have long been thought to respond to increased ocean acidity, caused by increasing levels, by becoming less calcified. Scientists were recently surprised to learn that in fact the opposite can happen in at least some circumstances, with the model species E. huxleyi
Emiliania huxleyi

Emiliania huxleyi, often abbreviated to simply "EHUX", is a species of coccolithophore with a global distribution from the tropics to subarctic waters....
 becoming 40% heavier, and more abundant, in waters of higher CO2 content.

See also

  • CLAW hypothesis
    CLAW hypothesis

    The CLAW hypothesis proposes a feedback that operates between ocean ecosystems and the Earth's climate. The hypothesis specifically proposes that particular phytoplankton that produce dimethyl sulfide are responsive to variations in climate forcing, and that these responses lead to a negative feedback that acts to stabilise the temperature o...
  • Emiliania huxleyi virus 86
    Coccolithovirus

    Coccolithovirus is a giant double-stranded DNA virus that infects Emiliania huxleyi, a species of coccolithophore. Its genome is 407,339 base pairs long with a G+C content of 41.1%, and contains 472 predicted coding sequences....
  • Ocean acidification
    Ocean acidification

    Ocean acidification is the name given to the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by their uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the Earth's atmosphere....
  • Phytoplankton
    Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of the plankton community. The name comes from the Greek language words phyton, or "plant", and p?a??t?? , meaning "wanderer" or "drifter"....
  • Pleurochrysis carterae
    Pleurochrysis carterae

    Pleurochrysis carterae is a unicellular coccolithophore alga that has the ability to calcify subcellularly. They produce calcified scales, known as coccoliths, which are deposited on the surface of the cell resulting in the formation of a coccosphere....


External links

  • - illustrated guide to Neogene coccolithophores and other nannofossils.