Biology:Dicranochaete
Dicranochaete is a genus of green algae in the order Chaetopeltidales. It is the only genus in the family Dicranochaetaceae.[1] It is a rare genus, found as an epiphyte on aquatic plants and algae in freshwater habitats.[2] One species is terrestrial, having been described from the soil of a spruce forest.[3]
Dicranochaete consists of single cells or a few cells clustered together, attached to a substrate. Cells are hemispherical or ellipsoidal in side view. The apical portion of the cells are covered by a hood-like structure, which may be spiny,[4] and has one or more bristles,[2] also termed setae. The seta is hollow and dichotomously branched.[4] Each cell has a cup-shaped, parietal chloroplast with or without pyrenoids.[2] Usually two contractile vacuoles are present in the basal part of the cell.[4] Asexual reproduction occurs by the formation of biflagellate zoospores; sexual reproduction is by biflagellate gametes, which fuse to form a quadriflagellate zygote.[2]
Species are distinguished from each other based on the morphology of the cap-like structure, and the number of bristles. Other morphological characters such as the size and shape of the cells are variable and less reliable for identification.[5]
Dicranochaete typically occurs in acidic, oligotrophic waters such as peat bogs, often those covered with Sphagnum moss.[5] It has evolved several traits that are adaptive to living in these low-nutrient environments, such as the presence of long setae to increase surface area for nutrient absorption, and the presence of a spiny cap for protection.[4]
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedAlgaebase - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 John, David M.; Rindi, Fabio (2014). "Chapter 8. Filamentous (Nonconjugating) and Plantlike Green Algae". Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2 ed.). Elsevier Inc.. ISBN 978-0-12-385876-4.
- ↑ Hoffmann, L.; Ector, L.; Kostikov, I. (2007). "Algal flora from limed and unlimed forest soils in the Ardenne (Belgium)". Systematics and Geography of Plants 77 (1): 15–90.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Caisová, Lenka (2016). "Dicranochaete – an enigmatic green alga with surprising adaptive capabilities". Phycologia 55 (2): 219–229. doi:10.2216/15-135.1. Bibcode: 2016Phyco..55..219C.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Francke, J.A.; Blokland, H. Kooijman-van (1985). "Species delimitation within the green algal genus Dicranochaete Hieronymus". Archiv für Protistenkunde 130 (1–2): 93–102. doi:10.1016/S0003-9365(85)80034-8.
Wikidata ☰ Q5273893 entry
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