Nannoplanktons are very small unicellular planktonic algae that live in the ocean. They produce calcium carbonate plates called coccoliths. Nannoplanktons have a life cycle that alternates between motile and non-motile phases, and they reproduce through both sexual fusion and cell division. They are classified into major morphological groups based on the structure of their coccoliths. Nannoplanktons play an important role in the marine ecosystem and fossilized coccoliths are useful for paleoecological analysis.

1. NANNOPLANKTONS
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2. INTRODUCTION
HISTORY OF NANOPLANKTONS
BIOLOGY OF THE ORGANISM
FORMATION OF COCCOLITHS
LIFE CYCLE- Reproduction, Nutrition
 and Growth
MINEROLOGY OF THE
COCCOLITHS
MAJOR MORPHOLOGIC GROUPS
CONCLUSION
REFERENCE
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3. INTRODUCTION
Nannoplanktons are also called as
Coccolithophores,Coccoliths, Coccospheres and
Nannoliths
Nannoplanktons are very minute unicellular planktonic
organism belongs to Chrysophyta of the Protista kingdom
Name is derived based on it’s size,
(10-50 micro meter in diameter).
The shape may be globular, fusiform, spherical or oval.
The organism found in the pelagic zone of ocean.
Cocoliths are marine planktonic, photosynthetic and
autotrophic algae.
After the organism die coccolith accumulate on the sea
bottom and forming calcareous oozes.
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A. living coccolithophore. flagellate stage with coccosphere formed from
two types of coccoliths: normal discoliths with a flat base and buccal
discoliths with a central stem.
(m = mouth, f = flagellate, l = leucosine inclusion,
n = nucleus, p = chloroplast)
B. Flagellate stage with visible haptonema (h)
C. Non - flagellate stage.

5. HISTORY OF THE NANNOPLANKTON
RESEARCH
 C.G Ehrenberg - calcareous
(1836)
 T.H Huxley - coccoliths
(1858)
 G.C Wallich & H.C Sorby - coccospheres
(1861)
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6. BIOLOGY OF THE ORGANISM
Most living coccolithophores are known to posses the
flagellar apparatus.
The ability of the coccolithophores to secrete
calcareous plates or coccoliths.
The importance of the coccolithophores as one of the
major constituents of marine phyto plankton and
their values as primary producers in the food chain.
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7. FORMATION OF COCCOLITHS
The mineralization of the coccolith occurs
within the protoplasm immediately next to the
reticular body. Between this body and the nucleus a
non granular matrix material is differentiated and first
assumes the general shape of coccolith. Precipitation of
the mineral calcite starts from various central points in
this matrix, advancing from the base of the coccolith
upwards and then to the periphery of the shields.
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8. Cont…
After classification the coccoliths are evidently pushed
to the surface of the cell where they form in to an
interlocking spherical envelope around the cell. This
coccolith envelope may become multi-layered as
more coccoliths are produced internally.
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9. LIFE CYCLE
Some coccolithophores pass through two phases in
their life cycle, a Motile phase and Non-motile phase.
Motile phase during which they passes the flagellar
apparatus.
The cell in the non-motile , normally secretes
coccoliths
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10. REPRODUCTION
 Parke and Adams (1960) were able to culture C.hyalinus
and discovered that the cell reproduces by fusion.
The motile phase passes in to the non-motile phase in 5-8
weeks.
Sexual fusion of two motile cells to form non-motile cells
may be involved in this conversion from one phase to
another.
NUTRITION
Coccolithophores are mostly photoautotrophic
– Organic mineral.
Some are heterotrophic – Utilizing both organic &
inorganic substance.
GROWTH
Growth rates of coccolithophores are relatively high, as
some species multiply more than twice in one day.
It exist relatively narrow temperature range.21/10/2011 10

11. MINEROLOGY OF COCCOLITHS
The calcium carbonate in the coccoliths normally
crystallized as calcite and to a lesser degree as
aragonite.
Two different types of crystallization can be
distinguished amongst coccolithophores are :-
i. Heterococcoliths – coccoliths formed by crystallites of
different shapes and sizes.
ii.Holococcoliths – coccoliths formed of similar types of
crystals.
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12. MAJOR MORPHOLOGIC GROUPSMAJOR MORPHOLOGIC GROUPS
MAINLY CLASSIFIED IN TO TWO…..
A.COCCOLITHOPHORES AND RELATED
NANNOLITHS
B.NON-COCCOLITHOPHORE NANNOLITHS
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13. A. COCCOLITHOPHORES AND
RELATED NANNOLITHS
Arkhangelskiellieds : In the Mesozoic, family
Arkhangelskiellaceae the elliptical coccoliths are composed of
complex shields of 2-4 cycles of joined elements. eg: Arkhangel
skiella.
Coccolithids : Occure in both the Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata.
It is characterized by 2 shielded coccoliths, each shield
composed of one or more cycles of crystal elements connected
at their inner margin.
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14. Podorhabdibs : In the Mesozoic, family
podorhabdaceae, the coccoliths are composed of 2
shields with a single cycle of radial element on the
proximal shield and with varied central area
structures that helps differentiate genera, e g:
Podorhabdus.
Rhabdosphaerids : In Cenozoic, family
Rhabdoshaeraceae. The elliptical to circular
coccoliths are characterized by one or two shields &
one or more cycles of minute crystal elements in the
central area. That gives the funnel or dome shaped
coccoliths.
e.g : Rhabdosphaera.
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15. Stephanolithids : Members of the family
Stephanolithionaceae. Have coccoliths of varied geometric
shapes with a distal cycle of crystal elements.
Zygodiscids : Is differentiated in both Mesozoic & Cenozoic
strata. They are elliptical coccoliths with a marginal wall of
one or two cycles of thin inner rim.
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16. B.NON-COCCOLITHOPHORE
NANNOLITHS
Braarudosphaerids: These are common in both
Mesozoic and Cenozoic , they are pentaliths
belonging to the family Braarudosphaeraceae, e g-
Braarudosphaera.
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17. Ceratolithids: These horse-shoe shaped nannoliths
occur in the late Cenozoic. Family Ceratolithaceae
e.g. - Ceratolithus and Amaurolithus.
Discoasterids: This is a numerically important group of
asteroliths, some disc- shaped, others star-shaped
with or without stems one side of the asterolith.
e.g- Discoaster
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18. Heliolithids: Two abutting unequal shields lacking a
connecting tube and one shield with sub radial
sutures are the characteristics of the family
Heliolithaceae. e.g. Heliolithus.
Sphenolithids: These Cenozoic forms have a rounded to
polygonal base, surrounded by an elongated rib-cone
with one or more spines radiating from the center.
Family Sphenolithaceae,
e.g. Sphenolithus.
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19. Conclusion
Nannoplanktons are unicellular, autotrophic marine
algae .
They are motile with two flagella & has a nucleus.
The shell composed of tiny, CaCO3 plates.
Nannoplanktons are found up to a depth of 50m in
marine.
The age of nannoplanktons ranges from late Triassic
– recent.
Nannoplanktons are very useful for paleoecological
interpretations.
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20.  1978 -Introduction to marine
micropaleontology, Bilal U.Haq and Anne
Boersma, pp-79 to 106
1985, Elements of Micropalaeontology,
G Bignot, pp.72-80.
www.goole.com
www.en.wikipedia.org.com
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