Bacillariophyta (Diatoms) What are the morphology, ecology, and economic biology of this group, especially as they relate to those of the euglenoids and dinoflagellates. What is the difference between centric and pennate diatoms? What is diatomaceous earth?
Bacillariophyta (Diatoms)
What are the morphology, ecology, and economic biology of this group, especially as they relate to those of the euglenoids and dinoflagellates. What is the difference between centric and pennate diatoms? What is diatomaceous earth?
Answer.
The morphology, ecology, and economic biology of the Bacillariophyta (Diatoms) are :
Morphology: Diatoms are unicellular organisms and exist in various shapes. They are elongated with a bilateral plane of symmetry. Also, they can be of round shape due to radial symmetry.
Ecology: Diatoms exist everywhere from freshwater to marine habitats. They are also found in the terrestrial ecosystem.
Economic biology: The diatoms are the principal components of the phytoplankton in aquatic ecology and hence are important food to aquatic life. Diatoms are of different types such as planktonic and benthic.
The sediments of diatoms are generally accompanied by petroleum fields.
The diatomite obtained from such sediments is porous and chemically inert in nature, hence is utilized in the filtration of alcohols, antibiotics, and sugars.
The difference between centric and pennate diatoms are:
|
Centric diatoms |
Pennate diatoms |
|
Exhibit radial symmetry |
Exhibits non-radial symmetry |
|
Raphe is absent |
The raphe is present (slit-like structure ) |
|
Size and shape varies |
The shape is boat-shaped |
|
The chloroplast is discoid in shape |
The chloroplast is elongated in shape |
|
Radially arranged Striation |
Pinnately arranged Striation |
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