PLANTLIKE PROTISTS The Unicellular Algae

Euglenophyta Pyrrophyta Chrysophyta Bacillariophyta Ecology of Unicellular Algae

Chlorophyll & Accessory Pigments

Why plantlike?

Most contain chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis May be used to classify unicellular algae

Chlorophyll & Accessory Pigments

Water vs. light absorption
Sunlight passes through H2O, E absorbed by H2O depth dimmer, bluer light

Chlorophyll & Accessory Pigments

Chlorophyll a
Found in plants Captures red & violet light Other forms (b, c) absorb different l of light

Chlorophyll & Accessory Pigments

Accessory pigments
Absorb light at different l than chlorophyll Gives algae wide range of colors Carotenoids yellow-orange Xanthophylls brownish Phycobilins red, blue

PHYLUM EUGLENOPHYTA (~800 spp.) Euglenophytes/Euglenoids

Predominantly green: chl a, chl b, carotenoids, xanthophylls Genus Euglena
Habitat: freshwater Size: 50 mm Nutrition: photoautroph/ heterotroph

Why is it advantageous for Euglena to be flexible in its mode of nutrition?

PHYLUM EUGLENOPHYTA (~800 spp.) Euglenophytes/Euglenoids

Parts of Euglena:
Flagella Spins Euglena through H2O Eyespot Reddish pigment Detects sunlight Paramylon bodies Stores surplus food Pellicle CM folded into ribbonlike ridges w/ microtubules

PHYLUM EUGLENOPHYTA (~800 spp.) Euglenophytes/Euglenoids

Parts of Euglena:
Flagella Spins Euglena through H2O Eyespot Reddish pigment Detects sunlight Paramylon bodies Stores surplus food Pellicle CM folded into ribbonlike ridges w/ microtubules

Phacus
Why is it advantageous for Euglena to have a tough & flexible pellicle?

PHYLUM EUGLENOPHYTA (~800 spp.) Euglenophytes/Euglenoids

Parts of Euglena:
Flagella Spins Euglena through H2O Eyespot Reddish pigment Detects sunlight Paramylon bodies Stores surplus food Pellicle CM folded into ribbonlike ridges w/ microtubules

Why is it advantageous for Euglena to have a tough & flexible pellicle?

PHYLUM EUGLENOPHYTA (~800 spp.) Euglenophytes/Euglenoids

Reproduction
Binary fission

PHYLUM PYRROPHYTA (~1,100 spp.) Dinoflagellates

Predominantly brown: chl a, chl c, carotenoids, xanthophylls (fucoxanthin) Habitat
Marine, freshwater

Nutrition
Some photosynthetic, some heterotrophic Store food as starch

Reproduction
Binary fission

Gonyaulax Causative agent of red tide

PHYLUM PYRROPHYTA (~1,100 spp.) Dinoflagellates

Parts
CW Two thick plates Cellulose Flagella Wrapped in grooves of plates Causes spinning movement Gr. dinos, whirling

Gonyaulax Causative agent of red tide

PHYLUM PYRROPHYTA (~1,100 spp.) Dinoflagellates

Unique characteristics
Bioluminescent When agitated Pyrrophyta, fire plants No histones The only eukaryotes w/o histones
Noctilluca scintillans, sea sparkle

PHYLUM CHRYSOPHYTA (~850 spp.)

Yellow-Green and Golden-Brown Algae
Predominantly golden olive: chl a, chl c, carotenoids, xanthophylls
Gr. chrysos, golden; Chrysophyta, golden plants

Dinobryon

PHYLUM CHRYSOPHYTA (~850 spp.)

Yellow-Green and Golden-Brown Algae
Habitat
Mostly freshwater

Nutrition
Photoautotroph/ heterotroph Store food as laminarin

Reproduction
Most asexual, some sexual
Synura

PHYLUM BACILLARIOPHYTA (~10,000 spp.) Diatoms

Among the most abundant organisms on Earth

PHYLUM BACILLARIOPHYTA (~10,000 spp.) Diatoms

Predominantly olive brown: chl a, chl c, carotenoids, xanthophylls Habitat
Marine, freshwater

Nutrition
Store food as oil, sometimes as leucosin (CH2O)

Reproduction
Binary fission

PHYLUM BACILLARIOPHYTA (~10,000 spp.) Diatoms

Cell wall
Thin, delicate, rich in SiO2 (main ingredient of glass) Shaped like two sides of a Petri dish W/ fine lines and patterns

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of oceans, ponds, lakes
Gr. planktos, wandering

Most unicellular algae Base of food chain; allows diversity of aquatic life Carries out ~1/2 of the photosynthesis on Earth

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of oceans, ponds, lakes
Gr. planktos, wandering

Most unicellular algae Base of food chain; allows diversity of aquatic life

Carries out ~1/2 of the photosynthesis on Earth

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of oceans, ponds, lakes
Gr. planktos, wandering

Ceratium

Most unicellular algae Base of food chain; allows diversity of aquatic life

Arachnodiscus

Carries out ~1/2 of the photosynthesis on Earth

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of oceans, ponds, lakes
Gr. planktos, wandering

Most unicellular algae Base of food chain; allows diversity of aquatic life

Triceratium

Carries out ~1/2 of the photosynthesis on Earth

Actinocyclus

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of oceans, ponds, lakes
Gr. planktos, wandering

Most unicellular algae Base of food chain; allows diversity of aquatic life

Baltic chain diatoms

Melosira

Carries out ~1/2 of the photosynthesis on Earth

Auliscisculptus ovalis

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of oceans, ponds, lakes
Gr. planktos, wandering

Pleurosigma

Most unicellular algae Base of food chain; allows diversity of aquatic life

Carries out ~1/2 of the photosynthesis on Earth

Plagiogramma oblongata

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of oceans, ponds, lakes
Gr. planktos, wandering

Navicula

Most unicellular algae Base of food chain; allows diversity of aquatic life

Navicula

Carries out ~1/2 of the photosynthesis on Earth

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Symbiotic Algae

Some corals have intercellular dinoflagellates
Dinoflagellates feed on waste products of corals, then serve as main food source for reef communities Coral bleaching

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Symbiotic Algae

Some corals have intercellular dinoflagellates
Dinoflagellates feed on waste products of corals, then serve as main food source for reef communities Coral bleaching

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Symbiotic Algae

Tridacna gigas, giant clam
Mantle populated by photosynthetic dinoflagellates

with zooxanthellae

Tridacna gigas

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Algal blooms

Sewage discharge Rapid heterotroph growth
Good: Recycles sewage and other waste material May be used as an indicator sp. of organic pollution Bad: Algal bloom Depletes water of nutrients Decomposition depletes DO

What does indicator species mean?

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Algal blooms

Pyrodinium bahamense

var compressum

Causative agent of red tide Produces dangerous toxin Shellfish (clam, oysters, etc.) experience biomagnification Eating infected shellfish causes serious illness, paralysis, death Not all are toxic

Why red tide?

ECOLOGY OF UNICELLULAR ALGAE Algal blooms

Pyrodinium bahamense

var compressum

Causative agent of red tide Produces dangerous toxin Shellfish (clam, oysters, etc.) experience biomagnification Eating infected shellfish causes serious illness, paralysis, death Not all are toxic

Why red tide?