48 Questions
What color are unpigmented, moving microorganisms most likely to be?
Clear or transparent
Which organisms are usually greenish or golden-brown?
Algae
What color are organisms that appear blue-green most likely to be?
Cyanobacteria
If encountering invertebrates, where should one refer to for identification?
Exercise 7
What is the procedure for making wet mount slides to study microorganisms in pond water?
Place a drop of suspended organisms on a microscope slide, cover it with a cover glass, and record the bottle number if using different cultures
Which subkingdom includes animal-like protists in Protozoa and plant-like in Algae?
Subkingdom Protozoa
What distinguishes Protozoa cells from other microorganisms?
Covered with a cell membrane, lack cell walls, and have distinct nuclei with nuclear membranes
How do Protozoa reproduce?
Asexually and sexually
Which phylum in Subkingdom Protozoa includes Sarcodina (Amoebae) and Mastigophora (Zooflagellates)?
Phylum Sarcomastigophora
What is the distinguishing feature of Phylum Ciliophora?
Structurally complex protozoans with cilia for movement and food-getting
What is the characteristic of Phylum Apicomplexa?
Internal parasites lacking locomotor organelles and having spore-forming stages
What does Subkingdom Algae include?
All photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms in Kingdom Protista, differing from plants in lacking tissue differentiation
Which pigment is unique to cyanobacteria?
C-phycocyanin
Which group of microorganisms lacks distinct nuclei?
Prokaryotes
Which organisms have pigments not contained in chloroplasts but in granules attached to membranes?
Cyanobacteria
Which division includes over 1,000 photosynthetic microorganisms?
Cyanobacteria
Which type of algae is nonfilamentous and nonflagellated?
Chlorococcum
Which marine species can produce red tides causing water discoloration and odors along coastal shores?
Gymnodinium species
Which algae species are filamentous?
Rhizoclonium
Which pigment is present in cyanobacteria?
Carotene
Which type of algae is present in various forms and sizes?
Gomphonema
Which nonfilamentous algae species is present in moist environments?
Chlorococcum
Which cyanobacteria species is included in Division Cyanobacteria?
Anabaena
Which group of microorganisms is smaller than protists and has rigid cell walls?
Prokaryotes
What is the food-storage compound in photosynthetic euglenoids?
Paramylum
Which division contains over 6,000 species with food storage in the form of oils and leucosin?
Chrysophycophyta
What are the hard cell walls of diatoms primarily composed of?
Silicon oxide
What is the food-storage compound in brown algae?
Laminarin
What is a distinguishing feature of desmids?
Two similar halves or semicells
Which group of microorganisms primarily exist in saltwater?
Phaeophycophyta
What is a characteristic of dinoflagellates?
Bioluminescent properties
Which division of algae synthesizes starch for food storage?
Chlorophycophyta
What is the characteristic of the majority of algae observed in ponds?
Synthesis of starch for food storage
What is a distinguishing feature of the Chrysophycophyta division?
Food storage in the form of oils and leucosin
What is the distinguishing characteristic of the Chrysophycophyta division?
Food storage in the form of oils and leucosin
What is the distinguishing feature of Diatoms?
Hard cell walls primarily composed of cellulose
What is the food-storage compound in photosynthetic euglenoids?
Paramylum
Which division contains over 6,000 species with food storage in the form of oils and leucosin?
Chrysophycophyta
What are the hard cell walls of diatoms primarily composed of?
Silicon oxide
What is the food-storage compound in brown algae?
Laminarin
What is a distinguishing feature of desmids?
Two similar halves or semicells
Which group of microorganisms primarily exist in saltwater?
Phaeophycophyta
What is a characteristic of dinoflagellates?
Bioluminescent properties
Which division of algae synthesizes starch for food storage?
Chlorophycophyta
What is the characteristic of the majority of algae observed in ponds?
Synthesis of starch for food storage
What is a distinguishing feature of the Chrysophycophyta division?
Food storage in the form of oils and leucosin
What is the distinguishing characteristic of the Chrysophycophyta division?
Food storage in the form of oils and leucosin
What is the distinguishing feature of Diatoms?
Hard cell walls primarily composed of cellulose
Study Notes
Microbial Algae and Cyanobacteria
- Some marine Gymnodinium species produce red tides causing water discoloration and odors along coastal shores
- These algae have chlorophylls a and c, and various xanthophylls
- Prokaryotes are smaller than protists, lack distinct nuclei, and have rigid cell walls
- Division Cyanobacteria in Domain Bacteria includes over 1,000 photosynthetic microorganisms
- Cyanobacteria are present in almost all moist environments and have unique pigments such as chlorophyll a, carotene, and c-phycocyanin
- The cellular structure of cyanobacteria differs from eukaryotic algae, with pigments not contained in chloroplasts but in granules attached to membranes
- Filamentous algae species include Rhizoclonium, Cladophora, and Bulbochaete
- Nonfilamentous and nonflagellated algae species include Chlorococcum, Oocystis, and Coelastrum
- Diatoms like Diatoma and Gomphonema are present in various forms and sizes
- Cyanobacteria species include Anabaena, Nodularia, and Arthrospira
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided images of different algae and cyanobacteria species
- The text is from "Microbiological Applications Lab Manual, Eighth Edition" by The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2001
Microorganisms in the Lab Manual
- The euglenoids, a group of flagellated protists, display characteristics intermediate between algae and protozoa, such as the absence of a cell wall and the presence of a gullet.
- Photosynthetic euglenoids contain chlorophylls a and b, a red stigma, and paramylum as a food-storage compound.
- The Chlorophycophyta group, including green algae, synthesizes starch for food storage and comprises diverse forms, such as Chlamydomonas, Pandorina, and Volvox.
- Desmids, a unique group of green algae, consist of two similar halves or semicells, separated by an isthmus.
- The Chrysophycophyta division, or golden brown algae, contains over 6,000 species with food storage in the form of oils and leucosin, and the presence of chlorophylls a and c and fucoxanthin.
- Diatoms, a subgroup of Chrysophycophyta, have hard cell walls of pectin, cellulose, or silicon oxide that accumulate on the ocean bottom to form diatomite.
- Phaeophycophyta, or brown algae, exist primarily in saltwater, have the same pigments as chrysophycophytes, and store food as laminarin and mannitol.
- Dinoflagellates, a principal group of Pyrrophycophyta, include marine species with cellulose walls, bioluminescent properties, and two flagella.
- The majority of algae observed in ponds belong to the Chlorophycophyta group.
- The diversity of the Chlorophycophyta group is too great to explore its subdivisions in this preliminary study.
- The desmids consist of two similar halves or semicells, usually separated by an isthmus.
- The Chrysophycophyta division consists of over 6,000 species and differs from other algae in food storage and pigment composition.
Test your knowledge of microbial algae and cyanobacteria with this quiz covering their characteristics, classifications, and unique features. From red tides to golden brown algae, diatoms, and dinoflagellates, explore the diverse world of microorganisms in various aquatic environments.
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