They range in size between 50 and 250 microns. A micron is 1/1000 of a millimeter. Desmids are photosynthetic, and so it had been usual for taxonomists place them in the Kingdom Plantae.

How many cells does a desmid consist of?

Scenedesmus sp. are small forms usually comprised of four cells, but some species may have up to twelve cells. Typically, at least the end cells possess spines. Many species of the genera Cosmarium (left), Euastrum (middle), and Micrasterias (right) have rounded, compressed forms.

What do desmids look like?

Desmids show a wide variety of body shapes and many species are ornamented with all kinds of knobs and spines. There are circular, rotund, elongated, star-shaped and even moon-shaped species, like this Closterium. There are also desmids that form long filaments.

What is the classification of a desmid?

The desmids belong to the class Zygnematophyceae. Although they are sometimes grouped together as a single family Desmidiaceae, most classifications recognize three to five families, either within the order Zygnematales or as their own order Desmidiales.

What are semi cells?

: either of the halves of a desmid cell.

A Very Large Desmid

19 related questions found

Is a desmid autotrophic or heterotrophic?

A desmid is classified in the Plantae kingdom so it is an autotroph.

Why is desmid important?

Like many other algal species, desmids are important indicators of water quality. Their occurrence provides information on environmental conditions such as pH, conductivity and trophic state of a water body. Using desmid species in environmental studies calls for reliable identification.

Is a desmid unicellular or multicellular?

desmids. desmids A group of green algae (division Chlorophyta) which are basically unicellular but have two distinct halves, or 'semicells'. The cells are usually solitary but in a few species they may form irregular or filamentous colonies.

What type of protist is a desmid?

desmid, (order Desmidiales), order of single-celled (sometimes filamentous or colonial) microscopic green algae, comprising some 5,000 species in about 40 genera. Desmids are sometimes treated as a family (Desmidiaceae) of the order Zygnematales.

Is a desmid prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

For example, like all eukaryotes, the desmid cell contains a membrane-bound nucleus as well as organelles, a cell wall that does not contain peptidoglycan (not all eukaryotes have cell walls), linear DNA, and a cytoskeleton, among other features.

Are diatoms and desmids same?

Additional Information: Difference between Diatoms and Desmids; - Diatoms are stramenopila algae whereas Desmids are chlorophyte. - The cell membrane of diatoms consists of silica whereas that of desmids consists of cellulose and pectins (like plants) . ... - They are Free swimming types of algae.

Is Cosmarium a desmid?

The desmid genus Cosmarium, with the apt species name reniforme, the semi-cells are obviously kidney shaped in face view as they are usually seen. In apical view elliptical. The cell walls are granulate. The species are widely distributed throughout Britain.

Is Staurastrum a desmid?

The desmid genera Staurastrum and Staurodesmus are notorious for their confusing taxonomy and problematic species identification.

What is unique about Closterium?

Abstract. The genus Closterium, which is the closest unicellular relative to land plants, is the best-characterized charophycean green alga with respect to the process of sexual reproduction. ... These pheromones function in most steps of sexual reproduction.

Is Desmid a producer or consumer?

Like all green algae, desmids are producers (see above General Information on Green Algae) and are one of the organisms at the base of aquatic food chains. Desmids are eaten by water fleas, copepods, rotifers, insect larvae, seed shrimp, and nematodes.

Where is Closterium?

They occur commonly as planktonic forms in rivers and streams, and sometimes in large numbers in ponds. Closterium and Cosmarium. Closterium is a common desmid in most freshwater habitats.

Are Desmid a protist?

Desmids are an order of single celled green algae with approximately 40 genera and 6,000 species. ... However, as more is learned about their internal chemistry, it is becoming more common to place them in the Kingdom Protista with all other forms of micro-algae.

Is red algae plant like?

The algae are plant-like protists. Unlike plants, they do not have true stems, roots, or leaves. Red algae are a very large group of protists making up about 5,000–6,000 species.

Are animal-like protists?

Animal-like protists are called protozoa. Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotes that share some traits with animals. Like animals, they can move, and they are heterotrophs. ... Animal-like protists include the flagellates, ciliates, and the sporozoans.

Are Desmids golden algae?

Desmids are also known as golden algae or golden-brown algae because of their distinctive golden colour, which is caused by the pigment fucoxanthin and the use of oil droplets as food reserves. ... This class of algae includes approximately 33 different genera and 1200 different species.

How do Desmids eat?

Like other plants that contain chlorophyll, desmids live by capturing the sun's energy (photosynthesis). From carbon dioxide dissolved in the water they manufacture sugar and starch as food.

What does Volvox use for locomotion?

Volvox colonies move through their environment by the coordinated movements of their cells' flagella. The dark circles on the colonies are immature daughter colonies.

When and where do diatoms bloom?

Diatoms are a widespread group and can be found in the oceans, in fresh water, in soils, and on damp surfaces. They are one of the dominant components of phytoplankton in nutrient-rich coastal waters and during oceanic spring blooms, since they can divide more rapidly than other groups of phytoplankton.

What do diatoms look like under a microscope?

Diatoms are photosynthetic organisms referred to as algae with a length/diameter of between 2 and 500 microns. ... The hydrated silica that makes the cell wall of these organisms looks more like opal, which is transparent, forming what resembles a glass house for the algae.

What do Desmids have in common?

Desmids are green algae, which most botanists consider to be the earliest-evolved plants. One of the ways that we can tell they are closely related to plants is they share the same photosynthetic pigments -- chlorophylls a and b -- and so have the same familiar green glow.