Www.bebo.com

Home of CELLS alive! Updates - Connect to the people you care about - Yahoo! Pulse C-MORE | Events The ocean contains a universe of small wonders, an interconnected web of life. Marine microbes are the root of all this life. Below is a simplifed version of how energy and matter are transferred in the ocean. Each box represents a general class of organisms, for example autotrophs. Arrows indicate the transfer of elements and energy between these boxes. Click on one of the boxes in the image below to see a slideshow of the organisms that comprise each group or scroll down to learn more. Phytoplankton Phytoplankton is a general term encompassing all autotrophic organisms. Nitrogen-fixers Nitrogen (N) is an essential ingredient in the recipe for life. Grazers: Zooplankton and More A colorful and varied assortment of organisms directly rely on microbes as a source of nutrition. Higher Organisms Beyond the microbial work-horses of the marine environment, there are the many creatures that depend on the productivity of the base of the food chain. Viruses Heterotrophic Bacteria [ Top of Page ]