Species: Ceratium Tripos
Student: Hayley Kennedy
Information:
Ceratium, per Encyclopædia Britannica, is a single-celled aquatic dinoflagellate algae. It is of the Ceratiaceae family and has both plant and animal characteristics. Taxonomically they are defined as algae (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica). They are some of the most primitive type of eukaryotes. These creatures were common in the Palaeozoic Era.
This special organism has two unlike flagella that protrude from the organism. “one (the transverse flagellum) may be contained in a groove-like structure around the equator of the organism (the cingulum), providing forward motion and spin to the dinoflagellate, the other (the longitudinal flagellum) trailing behind providing little propulsive force, mainly acting as a rudder” (Dinoflagellates and Dinocysts).
This group of plankton are found in temperate-zone seas and have been known to cause red tides and water blooms. “Dinoflagellates are perhaps best known as causers of harmful algal blooms. About 75-80% of toxic phytoplankton species are dinoflagellates. “red tides” often kill fish and/or shellfish either directly, because of toxin production, or because of effects caused by large numbers of cells that clog animal gills, deplete oxygen, etc.” (Page: Tree of Life Dinoflagellates). Dinoflagellate toxins create extremely potent biotoxins. This can be dangerous to ocean life as well as humans that eat shellfish or crustaceans. Although they are known for their harmful behaviors, they are actually vital to the ecosystems in which they live. They are also important components of the microbial loop in the oceans and help channel significant amounts of energy into planktonic food webs as well as being involved in reef-building (Dinoflagellates and Dinocysts).
Bibliography
“Dinoflagellates and Dinocysts.” UCL - London's Global University, www.ucl.ac.uk/GeolSci/micropal/dinoflagellate.html.
“Page: Tree of Life Dinoflagellates.” Tree of Life Web Project, tolweb.org/Dinoflagellates/2445.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Ceratium.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 2 Feb. 2017, www.britannica.com/science/Ceratium.
