Background Information:
Parameciums, like many other protozoa are single-celled organisms.
Protozoa that have cilia are called ciliates.
Where do they live?
Paramecium can be found to live in fresh water, brackish water, and sometimes marine environments. This can include lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and even puddles. Some parameciums can also live in the bodies of animals or in moist soil.
What is their cellular structure?
Paramecium is an oval shaped protozoan that is covered by short, hair like, structures called Cilia. These ciliates can resemble to some flagellates as they share similar internal structures, but their external structures are different as flagella is externally much longer than the hair like cilia. Ciliates are different from other protozoans as they contain two kinds of nuclei; a Macro-nucleus and a Micro-nucleus.
How do they move?
Cilia, the hair like structures that cover the paramecium is a very important part of the organism as it allows it to move. These cilia beat in unison at a very fast pace, causing the organisms body to vibrate, thus allowing it to move quickly and more efficiently through its environment.
What are their nutritional modes?
Paramecium usually feed on micro organisms such as bacteria, algae as well as yeast. In order for the paramecium to gather its food, it uses its cilia to sweep food as well as water into oral groove and into the organisms mouth. The food then passes through the mouth and into the cells gullet.
What ecological importance do they have?
The paramecium is an importance ecological factor within the environment as it helps to clean up small particles of debris in the water as well as feeding small animals. Unfortunately, some parameciums can cause illnesses.
Parameciums, like many other protozoa are single-celled organisms.
Protozoa that have cilia are called ciliates.
Where do they live?
Paramecium can be found to live in fresh water, brackish water, and sometimes marine environments. This can include lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and even puddles. Some parameciums can also live in the bodies of animals or in moist soil.
What is their cellular structure?
Paramecium is an oval shaped protozoan that is covered by short, hair like, structures called Cilia. These ciliates can resemble to some flagellates as they share similar internal structures, but their external structures are different as flagella is externally much longer than the hair like cilia. Ciliates are different from other protozoans as they contain two kinds of nuclei; a Macro-nucleus and a Micro-nucleus.
How do they move?
Cilia, the hair like structures that cover the paramecium is a very important part of the organism as it allows it to move. These cilia beat in unison at a very fast pace, causing the organisms body to vibrate, thus allowing it to move quickly and more efficiently through its environment.
What are their nutritional modes?
Paramecium usually feed on micro organisms such as bacteria, algae as well as yeast. In order for the paramecium to gather its food, it uses its cilia to sweep food as well as water into oral groove and into the organisms mouth. The food then passes through the mouth and into the cells gullet.
What ecological importance do they have?
The paramecium is an importance ecological factor within the environment as it helps to clean up small particles of debris in the water as well as feeding small animals. Unfortunately, some parameciums can cause illnesses.
Anatomical Structures:
Cilia: minuscule cilia that envelop the paramecium and are used for locomotion. (These protists are called Ciliates).
Contractile Vacuole: cavity of the paramecium that is able to contract.
Food Vacuole: cavity of the paramecium responsible for digestion.
Micronucleus: one of the important central organelles of a paramecium.
Oral Groove: canal of the paramecium used to ingest nutrients.
Gullet: cavity of the pharynx.
Ectoplasm: vitreous superficial layer of a paramecium.
Endoplasm: central part of a paramecium.
Nucleus: the most important central organelle of a paramecium.
Canals of Contractive Vacuole: division of the contractile cavity of a paramecium.
Trochocyst: root of a vibrative cilium of a paramecium
Cilia: minuscule cilia that envelop the paramecium and are used for locomotion. (These protists are called Ciliates).
Contractile Vacuole: cavity of the paramecium that is able to contract.
Food Vacuole: cavity of the paramecium responsible for digestion.
Micronucleus: one of the important central organelles of a paramecium.
Oral Groove: canal of the paramecium used to ingest nutrients.
Gullet: cavity of the pharynx.
Ectoplasm: vitreous superficial layer of a paramecium.
Endoplasm: central part of a paramecium.
Nucleus: the most important central organelle of a paramecium.
Canals of Contractive Vacuole: division of the contractile cavity of a paramecium.
Trochocyst: root of a vibrative cilium of a paramecium
Materials and Methods:
1. Place a small drop of Paramecium in the center of the microscope slide.
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
- Paramecium Solution
- Microscope Slides
1. Place a small drop of Paramecium in the center of the microscope slide.
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:
While observing the paramecium cells under the microscope in the laboratory, it was clear to see the few similarities that they shared with the Euglena cells. Although the paramecium visibly shared the same shape and movement as the euglena, we were not able to see how exactly the paramecium moved as the cilia were not visible under the highest objective lens. We also noticed they did not have a bright colour, but instead looked almost clear through the microscope, making the experience less enjoyable than the Euglena cells.
While observing the paramecium cells under the microscope in the laboratory, it was clear to see the few similarities that they shared with the Euglena cells. Although the paramecium visibly shared the same shape and movement as the euglena, we were not able to see how exactly the paramecium moved as the cilia were not visible under the highest objective lens. We also noticed they did not have a bright colour, but instead looked almost clear through the microscope, making the experience less enjoyable than the Euglena cells.