The Evolution of Modern Eukaryotic Phytoplankton
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Harvard University · +3 more institutions
Abstract
The community structure and ecological function of contemporary marine ecosystems are critically dependent on eukaryotic phytoplankton. Although numerically inferior to cyanobacteria, these organisms are responsible for the majority of the flux of organic matter to higher trophic levels and the ocean interior. Photosynthetic eukaryotes evolved more than 1.5 billion years ago in the Proterozoic oceans. However, it was not until the Mesozoic Era (251 to 65 million years ago) that the three principal phytoplankton clades that would come to dominate the modern seas rose to ecological prominence. In contrast to their pioneering predecessors, the dinoflagellates, coccolithophores, and diatoms all contain plastids…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 71.98
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 60
Authors
7- PGPaul G. FalkowskiCorresponding
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Harvard University, University of British Columbia, University of Dundee, Institute of Marine and Coastal Research
- MKMiriam Katz
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Harvard University, University of British Columbia, University of Dundee, Institute of Marine and Coastal Research
- AHAndrew H. Knoll
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Harvard University, University of British Columbia, University of Dundee, Institute of Marine and Coastal Research
- AQAntonietta Quigg
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Harvard University, University of British Columbia, University of Dundee, Institute of Marine and Coastal Research
- JAJohn A. Raven
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Harvard University, University of British Columbia, University of Dundee, Institute of Marine and Coastal Research
Topics & keywords
- Phytoplankton
- Ecology
- Ecosystem
- Trophic level
- Marine ecosystem
- Oceanography
- Biology
- Mesozoic
- Life below water