Algal Reproductive Structures Quiz

Life Cycle of Chlamydomonas

• When the water content of a pond dries up, Chlamydomonas cells undergo a transformation to survive.
• The mucilaginous walls of the cells become desiccated and shrivel up, protecting the cells from dehydration.
• When favorable conditions return after rains, the mucilaginous walls rehydrate and dissolve, releasing the aplanospores.
• The aplanospores develop into new Chlamydomonas cells.
• Chlamydomonas cells can grow into aplanospores as a survival mechanism.
• Every time a Chlamydomonas cell divides, the cell wall is temporarily broken down to allow for daughter cell formation.
• The daughter aplanospores remain confined within the mother cell wall until favorable conditions reappear.
• The mother cell wall imbibes moisture and becomes mucilaginous, allowing the daughter cells to escape.
• Through repeated cell division, a single Chlamydomonas cell can give rise to hundreds and thousands of daughter cells.