Features Of Saprolegnia And Paramecium

Paramecium, categorized under the Alveolata clade, are unicellular organisms that possess the ability for locomotion, digestion, and reproduction. Paramecium use the cilia surrounding their outer body for locomotion. This, in turn, provides for a more efficient escape in the presence of danger, making them the fastest protists at the speed of 4-2mm/second. Paramecium live in freshwater and are hypertonic to their environment; having a contractile vacuole to balance the water absorption/excretion through the cell prevents the cell from bursting. Another unique characteristic primary to Paramecium is the existence of two nuclei- a micronucleus and macronucleus. Though both nucleus contain all the necessary components to be specified as such structures, what makes the two unique from one another is what role each nucleus plays in the organism itself. Paramecium rely on the micronucleus for reproduction, while the macronucleus is of great significance for daily functions of the cell. Ceratium, categorized under Alveolata clade, are photosynthetic unicellular organisms found in both aquatic and marine habitats alike. Ceratium, or “Dinoflagellates”, possess two flagella, referred to as “longitudinal” and “transverse” flagella. Another unique characteristic distinct with Ceratium is how certain species are bioluminescent, meaning they produce light under fixed aquatic conditions. Ceratium are also known for causing “red tides” due to their “bloom”, causing an exponential growth in the number of dinoflagellates, thus making the water appear as if blood is present. This “red tide” phenomenon is harmful to the aquatic community because the dinoflagellates release toxins into the water, and in most cases deplete nutrients and oxygen from the water.

Saprolegnia, a genus of water molds, are fungus-like organisms that exhibit saprotrophic and necrotrophic feeding patterns. Saprolegnia are cotton-like in appearance due to the nature of the filaments, also known as hyphae, being attracted to pre-existing skin lesions to latch onto. Saprolegnia are primary pathogens that live in aquatic and soil-based habitats. When examined in aquatic species, amphibians proved to be at highest risk of contracting Saprolegniasis, a disease formed by Saprolegnia. These Saprolegnia infections are most often fatal, resulting from poor circulation of blood flow across the body. What’s fascinating about Saprolegnia is that they exhibit asexual and sexual reproduction patterns; zoosporangium produces spores by asexual reproduction, and by attaching to a medium for sexual reproduction to take place. These zoosporangium formed at the tips of Saprolegnia also have two flagella present- a whiplash and tinsel flagellum, with hair-like particles attached to the tinsel flagellum.