HOME | DD

Description
These miniaturized vagile vermiphytes are one of the most important primary producers of the oceans. They are short-lived, fast-breeding and appear in large swarms that form reddish sheets at depths where the UV radiation is not harmful to them any more. Their navigation is fairly simple: light attracts them, while UV light repels them. A number of filter feeders use this trait to attract macroalgae with bioluminescence, most notorious are the species making up the oceans' photoplancton. Some species of macroalgae defend themselves from predation with poisons or spines, which either grow on their body surface or are internal.

Predatory macroalga: With a size of almost 7 mm, this is one of the biggest macroalga species. It has lost the photosynthetic pigment but uses the same method of navigation as other macroalga species, which it captures and feeds from with the elongated, nematocyst-covered tentacles.

Glassbasket: Some species form shells as a mean of protection, with the glassbaskets mineralizing silicate. While most of them will just form a shell to protect the body, the common glassbasket bears spines as a defense. They are so common in some parts of the oceans that their shells are sediment-forming.

Description
These miniaturized vagile vermiphytes are one of the most important primary producers of the oceans. They are short-lived, fast-breeding and appear in large swarms that form reddish sheets at depths where the UV radiation is not harmful to them any more. Their navigation is fairly simple: light attracts them, while UV light repels them. A number of filter feeders use this trait to attract macroalgae with bioluminescence, most notorious are the species making up the oceans' photoplancton. Some species of macroalgae defend themselves from predation with poisons or spines, which either grow on their body surface or are internal.

Predatory macroalga: With a size of almost 7 mm, this is one of the biggest macroalga species. It has lost the photosynthetic pigment but uses the same method of navigation as other macroalga species, which it captures and feeds from with the elongated, nematocyst-covered tentacles.

Glassbasket: Some species form shells as a mean of protection, with the glassbaskets mineralizing silicate. While most of them will just form a shell to protect the body, the common glassbasket bears spines as a defense. They are so common in some parts of the oceans that their shells are sediment-forming.