Diameter 165 µm.
Franz
the marine alga Pachysphaera?
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Franz Neidl
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- Location: Italy
the marine alga Pachysphaera?
In all probability this alga is a member of the Prasinophyceae. This time (in contrast to the pictures from Halosphaera that I had you already shown) - the alga has no color (no clorophyl) and is also provided with cilia. Could it be a Pachyspaera which is "preparing" flagellates? What species of the Prasinophyceae?
Diameter 165 µm.
Franz
Diameter 165 µm.
Franz
hi Franz,
definitely not Pachysphaera.
It would be green and as the flagellate stage develops, the flagella are inside the "shell" and are relatively robust - and there would be fewer of them.
...but what is it !
My best guess would be a ciliated late stage blastula....but what animal... I would not even venture a guess.
I like the photo showing the surface...I suppose the "spots" are the flagella or the exit pores of the flagella.
Another fascinating subject - thank you!
Brian
definitely not Pachysphaera.
It would be green and as the flagellate stage develops, the flagella are inside the "shell" and are relatively robust - and there would be fewer of them.
...but what is it !
My best guess would be a ciliated late stage blastula....but what animal... I would not even venture a guess.
I like the photo showing the surface...I suppose the "spots" are the flagella or the exit pores of the flagella.
Another fascinating subject - thank you!
Brian
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Franz Neidl
- Posts: 747
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:59 am
- Location: Italy
Hello Brian,
thank you very much for your answer!
I still have two problems:
1. The outer border of the alga is so thick and transparent as in Halosphaera
2. The pores are similar as in Pachysphaera.
Therefore I had the suspect: the familily is Prasinophyceae...
But I miss the Chlorophyll.
When the alga is existing in the flagellate stage do these flagellates have any clorophyll?
Franz
thank you very much for your answer!
I still have two problems:
1. The outer border of the alga is so thick and transparent as in Halosphaera
2. The pores are similar as in Pachysphaera.
Therefore I had the suspect: the familily is Prasinophyceae...
But I miss the Chlorophyll.
When the alga is existing in the flagellate stage do these flagellates have any clorophyll?
Franz
hi Franz,
the flagellate does have one chloroplast but as i remember (and it is a long long time since i saw a definitively identified falgellate stage) the colour is quite pale. Throndsen (The planktonic marine flagellates , 1993) says "pale yellowish green". Ofcourse, yours could be an unhealthy specimen with little or no chlorophyll.
Another argument would be the relative length of the flagella. According to Throndsen, they are 4 - 9 x cell length. Yours look much shorter to me.
I do not know how the flagellates are released from the phycoma, but I imagine they would be released from a pore or tear in the wall. If so, the phycoma would never be surrounded by flagella as in your specimen.
i still need a lot of convincing !!
best wishes
Brian
the flagellate does have one chloroplast but as i remember (and it is a long long time since i saw a definitively identified falgellate stage) the colour is quite pale. Throndsen (The planktonic marine flagellates , 1993) says "pale yellowish green". Ofcourse, yours could be an unhealthy specimen with little or no chlorophyll.
Another argument would be the relative length of the flagella. According to Throndsen, they are 4 - 9 x cell length. Yours look much shorter to me.
I do not know how the flagellates are released from the phycoma, but I imagine they would be released from a pore or tear in the wall. If so, the phycoma would never be surrounded by flagella as in your specimen.
i still need a lot of convincing !!
best wishes
Brian