Background Information:
Euglena: Beautiful (Eu) Eye (glena)
is a single-celled microscopic algae that is both heterotrophic (must consume food) and autotrophic (can make its own food).Their chloroplasts trap sunlight and use it to carry out photosynthesis.
Where do they live?
Euglena are usually found to live in fresh water, streams, and in some fresh water ponds. They are usually found in places where there is a high level of chlorophyll. Because these protists are autotrophs, they can produce their own energy from chlorophyll in the same manner of plants.
What is their cellular structure?
Euglenids have many unique cellular structures, some of which include their flagella, eyespot, contractile vacuole, and chloroplasts. The eyespot helps the organism to detect light sources in order to photosynthesize. The contractile vacuole is also an important structure as it removes excess water from the organism. Without the contractile vacuole the protist would essentially continue to in take water by osmosis, resulting in too much water within the cell causing it to eventually burst.
How do they move?
Euglena move by the whipping motion of a tail like structure called the flagellum. The flagellum moves by a back and forth beating motion in the water, allowing for the flagellate to propel the organism through the water.
What are their nutritional modes?
Euglena is a very unique organism in which it can accommodate very well when it comes to their nutritional intake. Euglenids are both heterotrophic, which are organisms that can digest organic compounds for energy use, as well as being autotrophic, which are mainly algae organisms that can make it's own food (sugar for energy) by catching the suns ray for photosynthesis.
What ecological importance do they have?
Euglena is a very important organism within the environment as it is able to photosynthesize, thus taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere so that other organisms can survive.
Euglena: Beautiful (Eu) Eye (glena)
is a single-celled microscopic algae that is both heterotrophic (must consume food) and autotrophic (can make its own food).Their chloroplasts trap sunlight and use it to carry out photosynthesis.
Where do they live?
Euglena are usually found to live in fresh water, streams, and in some fresh water ponds. They are usually found in places where there is a high level of chlorophyll. Because these protists are autotrophs, they can produce their own energy from chlorophyll in the same manner of plants.
What is their cellular structure?
Euglenids have many unique cellular structures, some of which include their flagella, eyespot, contractile vacuole, and chloroplasts. The eyespot helps the organism to detect light sources in order to photosynthesize. The contractile vacuole is also an important structure as it removes excess water from the organism. Without the contractile vacuole the protist would essentially continue to in take water by osmosis, resulting in too much water within the cell causing it to eventually burst.
How do they move?
Euglena move by the whipping motion of a tail like structure called the flagellum. The flagellum moves by a back and forth beating motion in the water, allowing for the flagellate to propel the organism through the water.
What are their nutritional modes?
Euglena is a very unique organism in which it can accommodate very well when it comes to their nutritional intake. Euglenids are both heterotrophic, which are organisms that can digest organic compounds for energy use, as well as being autotrophic, which are mainly algae organisms that can make it's own food (sugar for energy) by catching the suns ray for photosynthesis.
What ecological importance do they have?
Euglena is a very important organism within the environment as it is able to photosynthesize, thus taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere so that other organisms can survive.
Anatomical Structures:
Flagellum - A tail-like structure which promotes the movement of these organisms.
Stigma - Light-sensitive part of a euglena (for photoreceptive purposes).
Contractile Vacuole - The area of the Euglena that enables it to contract.
Reservoir: part of a euglena used for storage.
Nucleus: central organelle of a euglena.
Pellicle: membrane that envelops a euglena.
Chloroplast: organelle of the euglena responsible for photosynthesis.
Nucleolus: spherical body that contains the nucleus of a euglena.
Flagellum - A tail-like structure which promotes the movement of these organisms.
Stigma - Light-sensitive part of a euglena (for photoreceptive purposes).
Contractile Vacuole - The area of the Euglena that enables it to contract.
Reservoir: part of a euglena used for storage.
Nucleus: central organelle of a euglena.
Pellicle: membrane that envelops a euglena.
Chloroplast: organelle of the euglena responsible for photosynthesis.
Nucleolus: spherical body that contains the nucleus of a euglena.
Materials and Methods:
2. Lower the cover glass onto the water drop at an angle.
3. Then, slowly lower the cover glass into the liquid to minimize disturbing air bubbles.
4. Remove excess water with tissue paper; cover glass should not float freely. The surface tension of the water should hold it in place.
5. Sketch the organism(s) seen through the microscope.
- Microscope
- Euglena Solution
- Microscope Slides
2. Lower the cover glass onto the water drop at an angle.
3. Then, slowly lower the cover glass into the liquid to minimize disturbing air bubbles.
4. Remove excess water with tissue paper; cover glass should not float freely. The surface tension of the water should hold it in place.
5. Sketch the organism(s) seen through the microscope.
Discussion:
After carrying out this laboratory procedure it is clear that out of the three observations from under the microscope (Euglena, Paramecium, Volvox and Spirogyra), that Euglena was one of the easiest protists to observe as there were a large amount of them on the slide. Another advantage that allowed us to observe these organisms better than the others was because of their bright green colour, due to their chloroplasts. Looking at these euglenids from under the microscope also made our laboratory experience exciting as we were able to view the individual Euglenas moving all around the slide.
After carrying out this laboratory procedure it is clear that out of the three observations from under the microscope (Euglena, Paramecium, Volvox and Spirogyra), that Euglena was one of the easiest protists to observe as there were a large amount of them on the slide. Another advantage that allowed us to observe these organisms better than the others was because of their bright green colour, due to their chloroplasts. Looking at these euglenids from under the microscope also made our laboratory experience exciting as we were able to view the individual Euglenas moving all around the slide.