Biology:Sorastrum
Sorastrum is a genus of green algae in the family Hydrodictyaceae.[1] It is a component of the phytoplankton of freshwater ponds, lakes, and ditches. Sorastrum is common in tropical to temperate regions of the world,[2] but due to its small size it is often overlooked.[3]
The genus was named by Friedrich Traugott Kützing and comes from the Ancient Greek terms σωρός (sōrós, "heap") and ἄστρον (astron, "star").[4]
Description
Sorastrum forms spherical colonies of 8 to 128 cells.[5] Individual cells are kidney-shaped, pear-shaped, or wedge-shaped, or spherical (in Sorastrum sphericum)[3] and attached to a central body of mucilage via gelatinous strands. On each cell there are two to four outwardly pointing spines. Each cell contains a single chloroplast with a one pyrenoid.[6]
Identification of species depends on the size and shape of the cells, particularly the spines.[2]
Reproduction
Reproduction occurs asexually, by zoospores. Zoospores have two flagella each and are formed by the repeated division of the protoplast. Once divided, the zoospores are released from a tear in the mother cell wall. Sexual reproduction has not been observed in Sorastrum, but is presumed to be similar to that of Hydrodictyon and Pediastrum.[2]
References
- ↑ See the NCBI webpage on Sorastrum. Data extracted from the "NCBI taxonomy resources". National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/pub/taxonomy/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "Sorastrum". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/browse/taxonomy/?id=43415.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keshri, Jai Prakash; Mallick, Prasant (2013). "The genus Sorastrum Kützing (Hydrodictyaceae, Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyta) from India, with a new species S. philiposianum". Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy 20 (2): 243–249. doi:10.3329/bjpt.v20i2.17399. Bibcode: 2013BJPT...20..243K.
- ↑ Rabenhorst, L. (1853). Kryptogamen-Flora von Sachsen, Ober-Lausitz, Thüringen und Nord-Böhmen, mit Berücksichtigung der benachbarten Länder: erste Abtheilung: Algen im weitesten Sinne, Leber und Laubmoose. Leipzig: Verlag von Eduard Kummer. pp. i-xx, 1-653.
- ↑ Bicudo, Carlos E. M.; Menezes, Mariângela (2006). Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições (2 ed.). RiMa Editora. pp. 508. ISBN 857656064X.
- ↑ Shubert, Elliot; Gärtner, Georg (2014). "Chapter 7. Nonmotile Coccoid and Colonial Green Algae". Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2 ed.). Elsevier Inc.. ISBN 978-0-12-385876-4.
Wikidata ☰ Q7563301 entry
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