Dinoflagellates

Dinoflagellates: are unicellular type of phytoplankton, basically a floating organism that produces oxygen, requires sun light much like a plant on the earths surface. These organism only lives in about the first 200m because any lower and the sunlight does not reach. something unique about this organism is it produces its own food. Around the coastal areas during the summers the Dinoflagellates reproduce in such high numbers it might appear the water has turned golden or red, producing a red tide. Because of this many of the marine life suffers due to a neurotoxin that is produced.

Photosynthetic Can produce toxins Causes paralytic shellfish poisoning Cause to many tropical fish poisonings, Part of the phytoplankton world Needs light Scientific name Dinoflagellates Dinoflagellates are most often considered to be plants, because many make their own food using air, water, and sunlight Interaction with the ocean. Feeds other sea creatures like whales. Are Poison to shellfish and humans after the fish have eaten the Dinoflagellates. The physical side is that it uses its surroundings to create its own food



http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/protista/dinoflagellata.html