Background Information:
These organisms are unicelluar alga that grow in soil, lakes, and ditches. They are the fundamental structures of green algae. The two chlamydomonas we focused on are Volvox and Spirogyra.
Where do they live?
Volvox: mainly found in fresh water such as ponds and puddles.
Spirogyra: also can be found in fresh water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, puddles etc.
How do they move?
Volvox: Like the euglena, these cells also move with the help of a flagella, allowing it to move by a whipping tail like motion of the flagella.
Spirogyra: unlike most protists, this organism does not have much locomotion, but instead goes with the flow of the water and moves around quite freely.
What are their nutritional modes?
Volvox: known to eat a variety of foods such as other algae, as well as plants and sometimes even fruit.
Spirogyra: As a green algae, it is known to feed itself through photosynthesis.
These organisms are unicelluar alga that grow in soil, lakes, and ditches. They are the fundamental structures of green algae. The two chlamydomonas we focused on are Volvox and Spirogyra.
Where do they live?
Volvox: mainly found in fresh water such as ponds and puddles.
Spirogyra: also can be found in fresh water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, puddles etc.
How do they move?
Volvox: Like the euglena, these cells also move with the help of a flagella, allowing it to move by a whipping tail like motion of the flagella.
Spirogyra: unlike most protists, this organism does not have much locomotion, but instead goes with the flow of the water and moves around quite freely.
What are their nutritional modes?
Volvox: known to eat a variety of foods such as other algae, as well as plants and sometimes even fruit.
Spirogyra: As a green algae, it is known to feed itself through photosynthesis.
Anatomical Structure:
Chlamydomonas: Volvox and Spirogyra
These organisms are egg shaped and contain:
Chloroplast: A site that attracts light for photosynthesis
Pyrenoid: small protein granules that occur in certain algae, mosses, and protozoans and are involved in the synthesis of starch.
Volvox: have two flagella extending outwards to the surface. The movement of the volvox is coordinated by the synchronized movement of the flagella. Many biologists consider the volvox to be multicellular.
Spirogyra: are found in cool freshwater and secretes mucilage so that it appears to feel slippery.
Chlamydomonas: Volvox and Spirogyra
These organisms are egg shaped and contain:
Chloroplast: A site that attracts light for photosynthesis
Pyrenoid: small protein granules that occur in certain algae, mosses, and protozoans and are involved in the synthesis of starch.
Volvox: have two flagella extending outwards to the surface. The movement of the volvox is coordinated by the synchronized movement of the flagella. Many biologists consider the volvox to be multicellular.
Spirogyra: are found in cool freshwater and secretes mucilage so that it appears to feel slippery.
Materials and Methods:
Part Two
- Microscope
- Chlamydamonas Solution
- Microscope Slides
- Observe a drop of water containing living Chlamydomonas and note the movement of the cells.
- If movement is too fast, put one to two drops of methylcellulose on the slide to slow them down.
- Mix gently and add cover slip.
- Observe reddish stigma at the anterior of the cell.
Part Two
- Place drops of + and - gametes of Chlamydomonas provided at either side of the slide.
- Do not add cover slip.
- While observing the slide through the lower power of the microscope, mix the two drops of isogametes.
- Switch to high magnification and note the clumping gametes. Try to locate cells that have pairs.
Discussion:
It was interesting to investigate the group of algae that are so prominent in our environment. We had some difficulty trying to distinguish the structures of the Volvox and Spirogyra as it was such a fragile procedure - getting the right amount of water as well as mixing it with the labelled chlamydomonas proved challenging. Eventually as they became more visible, we were able to see the reproduction in chlamydomonas. This experiment helped to develop our confidence with the microscopes and knowledge of the mechanisms that ensure the constant production of these chlamydomonas.
It was interesting to investigate the group of algae that are so prominent in our environment. We had some difficulty trying to distinguish the structures of the Volvox and Spirogyra as it was such a fragile procedure - getting the right amount of water as well as mixing it with the labelled chlamydomonas proved challenging. Eventually as they became more visible, we were able to see the reproduction in chlamydomonas. This experiment helped to develop our confidence with the microscopes and knowledge of the mechanisms that ensure the constant production of these chlamydomonas.