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Marine Food Webs

Primary Production

Marine food webs begin with primary producers that convert inorganic carbon into organic molecules. Phytoplankton—diatoms, dinoflagellates, coccolithophores, and cyanobacteria—dominate open-ocean production. These microscopic organisms are so numerous that their chlorophyll can be detected from satellites, revealing global patterns of ocean productivity. Coastal areas receive nutrient inputs from rivers and upwelling, supporting dense phytoplankton blooms. Seagrasses and macroalgae (kelp, seaweed) dominate nearshore production. Giant kelp forests along the California coast grow up to 45 cm per day, reaching 60 meters in height and supporting ecosystems as complex as tropical rainforests. In the deep sea, chemosynthetic bacteria at hydrothermal vents use hydrogen sulfide to fix carbon, supporting entire communities independent of sunlight.

Marine Food Webs

Primary Production

Marine food webs begin with primary producers that convert inorganic carbon into organic molecules. Phytoplankton—diatoms, dinoflagellates, coccolithophores, and cyanobacteria—dominate open-ocean production. These microscopic organisms are so numerous that their chlorophyll can be detected from satellites, revealing global patterns of ocean productivity. Coastal areas receive nutrient inputs from rivers and upwelling, supporting dense phytoplankton blooms. Seagrasses and macroalgae (kelp, seaweed) dominate nearshore production. Giant kelp forests along the California coast grow up to 45 cm per day, reaching 60 meters in height and supporting ecosystems as complex as tropical rainforests. In the deep sea, chemosynthetic bacteria at hydrothermal vents use hydrogen sulfide to fix carbon, supporting entire communities independent of sunlight.