Biological Oceanography

SL 10303
Marine Science
HS 40
Introduction to Biological Oceanography
Title: The Microbial World: Monera, Protista & Fungi
Name

: Azureen Murshidi

No. Matrik

: BS14110174

INSTRUCTOR

:Dr. John Madin

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 1 October 2014

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 9 October 2014

1.0 Introduction
The ocean represent the largest community of living things. There are a wide variety
of organisms that live in the marine environment. This organisms range in size from a
microscopic living things such as bacteria and algae to a very large mammals such as the
blue whale. There are over 250,00 marine species that has been identified by the marine
biologist and the number is constantly increasing as a new organisms are found. Fungi is
widely spread in the ocean but are not as diverse than the main land. They are much more
common in the intertidal zone , where they live with the cyanobacteria or green algae to
form lichen.
Microorganisms are living things that cannot be seen through our naked eyes. To
observe these organisms a microscope must be used due to its micro size. ( micro means
tiny or small ). Bacteria and Protozoa are an example of microorganisms that are classified
in the Microbial world.
These microorganisms are classified based on their physical characteristics. Bacteria
and Protozoa shows a variety of morphologies (shapes and sizes). Though it is small and
tiny these microorganisms holds a big part in maintaining the marine environment and are
important for commercial and economical use for the humans due to their metabolic
activity.These microorganisms might also bring harm to the fishes and prawns that are
cultured. Fungi shows many different morphologies , functions and the way they
reproduce. They also have an important role in maintaining the marine environment.

1.1 Objectives
To study the biological and ecological characteristics of microbial organisms such as
monera , protista and fungi.

2.0 Materials and Methods

2.1 Materials

Compound Microscope

Stereo Microscope

Enamel Tray

Hand glove

Light

Alcohol 70% (for preservation)

Distilled water

Petri dish

Forceps

Dropper

Specimens of Kingdom Bacteria

-Streptococcus sp.

-Vibrio parahemolyticus
-Vibrio harvey
-Vibrio anguillarium

Specimens of Kingdom Protista

-Radiolarians
-Schizochytrium sp.

Specimens of Kingdom Fungi

-Parasitic Marine Fungi

-Lagenidium thermophilum

2.2 Methodology
1.

The specimens and the materials are set-up and prepared by the laboratory assistant.

2.

The compound microscopes and stereo microscopes are used to observe the
specimens.

3.

The specimens are drawn and labeled based on the observation.

4.

The observable physical characteristics are recorded down according to the species.

5.

The biological and ecological characteristics such as habitat , reproduction , feeding

and life cycle of each organisms of each specimens are taken from other resources
and are included in the report.

3.0 Results and Discussions

3.1 Results
KINGDOM BACTERIA

Magnification 40X

KINGDOM PROTISTA

KINGDOM FUNGI

Microscope pictures
Kingdom Bacteria

Vibrio Harveyi

Streptococcus sp.

Kingdom Protista

Schizochytrium sp.

Kingdom Fungi

Lagenidium thermophilum

3.2 Discussions
Kingdom Bacteria:
Bacteria are included in Monera. It is a simple , microscopic, unicellular organisms that
have no nucleus. It is very important in the marine biological processes in several
ways.They could secrete powerful enzymes that could decompose dead plants and
animals and convert them to inorganic nutrients. It synthesize organic compounds that
are dissolved in the seawater and could be taken up by larger organisms. It is also
involved in photosynthesis and converting the ammonia and nitrogen into nitrate and
nitrite, for example the cyanobacteria. Bacteria could also bring harm. They are
pathogenic and could infect marine life for example fish , shrimps and clamps. When these
infected marine life are consumed it may cause disease to the consumers or even worse
death.

Streptococcus sp.
Taxonomy of Streptococcus Sp.
Kingdom

Bacteria

Phylum

Firmicutes

Class

Bacilli

Order

Lactobacillales

Family

Streptococcaceae

Genus

Streptococcus

Streptococcus sp. Is spherical Gram-positive bacteria. They grow in chains and in pairs.
Can be found on animals. It reproduce asexually. Can cause diseases and are a very
harmful pathogens.

Vibrio sp.
Taxonomy of Vibrio Sp.
Kingdom

Bacteria

Phylum

Proteobacteria

Class

Gamma Proteobacteria

Order

Vibrionales

Family

Vibrionaceae

Genus

Vibrio

Vibrio parahaemolyticus are rod shaped , curved , and is a Gram-negative. It is motile

and have a single , polar flagellum. Can be found in brackish saltwater (water that has
more salinity than fresh water but not as much as a seawater) . They naturally live in the
coastal waters due to the much more favorable environment during the summer.
Reproduce asexually , asexual division. Colonize a host and complete their life cycle in the
host such as Clithon retropictus (water snail), Litopenaeus (prawns) and Nerita albicilla
(sea snail). It is pathogenic. May cause diarrhea , nausea , vomitting, abdominal cramps
and sometimes fever if the infected raw seafood is consumed. Swimming in the affected
area may cause infections to ears , eyes and on an open wounds and cuts. May also lead
to death when wounds are infected.

Vibrio harveyi are Gram-negative. Its is rod-shaped , has a polar flagella therefore it is
motile. It is also anaerobic and halophilic. It can be found in tropical marine waters
commonly in the gut microflora of marine animals. It is pathogenic , infects the
corals,lobsters,prawns,seahorses and milkfish. Undergo reproduction asexually through
asexual division. Life cycle are completed in a host such as shrimps. Causes disease that
affects the cultured shrimps that are used for commercials.

Vibrio anguillarum is a curved-rod bacterium. Has a polar flagellum therefore it is

motile. Is a Gram-negative bacterium. It is also pathogenic. Infects the salmon , bream ,
mullet , catfish and talapia. It i widely spread across the world. Can be found in the tissues
of fishes. Reproduce asexually through asexual division. Complete their life cycle in
varieties of cultured fishes. Therefore it is an important pathogen of salmonid fish ,
causing disease such as vibriosis or red pest of eels.

Kingdom Protista
The Protista is consist of a single-celled organisms that process a true nucleus. The
common member of Kingdom Protista are the foraminifera. Forams constitute a very large
portion of the living mass of the ocean and are very critical for the ecology of the ocean.
They could take up and release chemicals in seawater , serve as food for the larger
organisms and contribute to pelagic sedimentary deposits of the deep sea. It is also
important for the production of biofuels for example the Schizochytrium sp.

Radiolarians (phylum)
1. Species is not scientifically identified
Taxonomy:
Kingdom

Protista

Phylum

Radiolarian

Radiolarians has a central capsule that divides the cells into the inner and outer
portions of endoplasm and ectoplasm. Found as zooplanktons throughout the ocean and
their skeletal remains covers a large part of the ocean floor. It has needle-like
pseudopodia that are supported by the bundles of microtubules which help them on
buoyancy. Cell nucleus are found in the endoplasm and the ectoplasm are filled with
vacuoles and lipid droplets. It can contain symbiotic algae which provide the cells energy.
As zooplankton they consume smaller phytoplankton. After reproduction , the new cells

sinks to depth of hundreds of meters and they will complete their life cycle at the sufce of
the oceans.

Schizochytrium sp.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom

Protista

Phylum

Bigyra

Class

Labyrinthulea

Order

Thraustochytriida

Family

Thraustochytriaceae

Genus

Schizochytrium

Schizochytrium sp. are found in coastal marine habitats. It is a genus of unicellular

protists. They produce docosahexanoic acid and grown commercially for production of
biofeeds, biomass and biofuels. They have several life stages. It has a tiiff rounded body
and has a cellular extensions to be use for feeding purposes. The cells grow and divide to
form a cluster of cells which eventually become a sorus that produce zoospores.It feeds on
smaller bacterium.

Kingdom Fungi
Fungi are widely dispersed in the ocean but they are not as diverse there as they are on
the land. They are very common in the intertidal zone , where they help to keep algae
from drying up and dying during the low tide season. Its primary role are to decompose
organic matter . Few studies are focused on the ecology and general life habits of the
marine fungi. Fungi can also be pathogenic to some animals for examples the mud crab.

Lagenidium sp.
Kingdom

Chromalveolata

Phylum

Heterokontophyta

Class

Oomycota

Order

Lagenidiales

Family

Lagenidiaceae

Lagenidium thermophilum can be found in the seawater and it will infect a host.
Common host are the mud crab.It will infect the host during their egg and larvae stage.
When it is contacted with seawater or when there is no nutritional condition zoospore will
be produced. It has a discharge tube where the zoospore will be discharged at. It is a
pathogenic species. It reproduce asexually. The zoospore has a flagellum thus making it
motile.

4.0 Conclusion
During my time of doing these practical I have learned various types of bacteria , protis
ta and fungi in the marine biology. I have also learned their characteristics , biological and
ecological habitat , feeding mode ,life cycle and their method of reproduction. Other than
that, i have also learned their importance as a part of the marine life. All of these species
played a different role to maintain the marine biological and ecological balance. Some of
these species also brings harm to humans and it must be taken into notice. During these
research I have learned the consequences of consuming a raw infected marine life.

5.0 Reference
1.

Wikipedia.

2012.

Vibrio

parahaemolyticus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibrio_parahaemolyticus. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

2.

Wikipedia.

2012.

Vibrio

harveyi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibrio_harveyi.

Retrieved 27 October 2012.

3.

Microbe Wiki. 2012. Vibrio. http:// http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Vibrio.

Retrieved 27 October 2012.

4.

Microbe

Wiki.

2012.

Vibrio

harveyi.

http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Vibrio_harveyi. Retrieved on 4 October 2012.

5.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Prepared by Carina Blackmore M.S. Vet. Med, Ph.D.

DOH,

Bureau

of

Epidemiology

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/htopics/reports/vib_para.pdf. Retrieved 27
October 2012.
6.
Paul R. Pinet , Invitation to Oceanography Fifth Edition , Colgate Universiy , Jones
And Bartlett Publishers, 2009.