Is desmid prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

Eukaryote: a desmid (green alga) Closterium sp.

What are the characteristics of desmids?

Desmids are characterized by extensive variation in cell shape and are found worldwide, usually in acid bogs or lakes. Since most species have a limited ecological range, the presence of specific desmids is helpful in characterizing water samples.

What kingdom is desmid in?

Plant
Desmidiales/Kingdom
Desmids are photosynthetic, and so it had been usual for taxonomists place them in the Kingdom Plantae. 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 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. Cells without their chloroplast content are often found, sometimes this has been depleted by fungi.

Do desmids have Pseudopodia?

Morphology. The structure of these algae is unicellular, and lacks flagella. Although most desmids are unicellular, the species Desmidium swartzii forms chains of cells resembling the algae genus Spirogyra. However, these filaments are arranged in a helix pattern.

What is unique about Closterium?

Closterium cells are crescent-shaped or elongate and lack spines. Some are quite straight and needle-like, while others are much broader with curved ends. The ends of the cell are usually tapered and may be pointed or rounded. Each semicell has a single axial, ridged chloroplast with at least one pyrenoid.

What do all desmids have in common?

Believe it or not, these are all plants. 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.

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 do desmids feed on?

Like all organisms they have their place in the complex web of life. 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.

Are desmids Photoautotrophic?

Most dinoflagellates are autotrophic, others are heterotrophic or osmotrophic. Diatoms are unicellular, colonial, or filamentous autotrophic organisms that live in marine and freshwater habitats.

Where can Closterium be found?

cuspidatum has been collected several times in North America (Prescott et al., 1975; Stein, 1975). It is usually rare in samples taken from acidic, oligotrophic ponds and lakes.

Where are Desmids found?

freshwater habitats
Desmids are primarily found in freshwater habitats, such as ponds, rivers, and lakes. There, they may live as phytoplankton, on the bottom as benthic dwellers, or on the submerged portions of plants. They may also be found in saline waters, or in snow or ice.

How many species are there in the desmid family?

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.

What are the characteristics of a desmid organism?

Desmid. Desmids are sometimes treated as a family (Desmidiaceae) of the order Zygnematales. Desmids are characterized by extensive variation in cell shape and are found worldwide, usually in acid bogs or lakes. Since most species have a limited ecological range, the presence of specific desmids is helpful in characterizing water samples.

Where can desmids be found in the world?

Desmids are unicellular micro-organisms belonging to the green algal families of Mesotaeniaceae and Desmidiaceae. They occur in standing freshwaters. Although among the microbes ranking as real giants, with the unaided eye even the largest representatives are hardly to be seen.

Which is the correct order of the Desmidiales?

Jump to navigation Jump to search. Desmidiales, commonly called Desmids (Gr. desmos, bond or chain), are an order in the Charophyta, a division of green algae in which the land plants (Embryophyta) emerged. The desmids belong to the class Zygnematophyceae.