DRAYTON HARBOR PLANKTON GALLERY
Drayton Harbor Plankton Gallery:
Videos and photos of plankton and other species from the HABs hunters team
Pseudo-nitzschia diatoms shaking off a clump of microbial detritus
Noctiluca, Drayton Harbor, 2020
Dinophysis acuminata marine dinoflagellate which can cause diarrhetic shellfish poisoning
Diatoms
Single-celled plankton that make up various types of algae. They have a hard cell wall that is clear which allows them to photosynthesize. Diatoms can form chains and colonies.
Dinoflagellates
Larger, single-celled plankton that make up various types of algae. Some photosynthesize while others consume smaller organisms such as diatoms. They have two flagella, or tails, that allow some movement. Dinoflagellates are also capable of forming chains and colonies.
Larger Marine Organisms
These are photos of barnacle larvae, Cirolana and Terebellidae. Barnacles are organisms with exoskeletons that can move as larva, but don’t move as adults. They eat plankton and similar, smaller organisms. Cirolana also have exoskeletons in addition to segmented legs and antennae. They feed on decaying plant and animal matter. Terebellidae are sea worms that live in small crevices and eat off the sea floor. They have many small, sticky tentacles that they use to collect decaying matter to eat.
