Bacillariophyta (Diatoms) and Dinoflagellata: Plantlike Protista
"The majority of dinoflagellate species are marine, and together with coccolithophores and diatoms they make up the most important primary producers in the oceans" (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/research).
Without these important phyla, the ocean would be unbalanced because dinoflagellates and diatoms are at the bottom of the food chain.
Without these important phyla, the ocean would be unbalanced because dinoflagellates and diatoms are at the bottom of the food chain.
Picture sources in order of slideshow: http://orchardparkway.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/algae-1.jpg
| http://www.oceanchampions.org/blog/?s=algae | https://www.environmentalatlas.ae/seaToSummit/offshoreWaters | http://www.buzzle.com/articles/diatoms-reproduction.html | http://globalclimaticchange.blogspot.com/ | http://arhguz.blogspot.com/2012/08/bioluminescent-phytoplankton-vaadhoo.html | http://tolweb.org/notes/?note_id=5512 | http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ | http://www.energyinsight.info/ocean_algae_biomass.jpg | http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/about/what_are_diatoms| http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/environhealth/water/Pages/Redtide.aspx | http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/ecohab/work/ecohab2000.html | http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Diatom_pennate_life_cycle.jpg/928px-Diatom_pennate_life_cycle.jpg