Incubator escapee wiki

Spirogyra

Article Discussion

Template:Short description Template:For-multi Template:Automatic taxobox

Spirogyra (common names include water silk, mermaid's tresses, and blanket weed) is a genus of filamentous charophyte green algae of the order Zygnematales, named for the helical or spiral arrangement of the chloroplasts that is characteristic of the genus. Spirogyra species, of which there are more than 500, are commonly found in freshwater habitats.<ref name="msu">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Spirogyra measures approximately 10 to 150 micrometres in width (though not usually more than 60) and may grow to several centimetres in length.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

DistributionEdit

Spirogyra can be been found on every continent on Earth, including Antarctica. It is freshwater algae, found rivers, ponds, and other such bodies of water.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

TaxonomyEdit

The genus Spirogyra was named by German naturalist Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link in 1820. The lectotype, Spirogyra porticalis was designated in 1952 by Paul C. Silvia.<ref>Spirogyra page, AlgaeBase.</ref>

ReproductionEdit

File:The freshwater alga Spirogyra.jpg
The freshwater alga Spirogyra

Spirogyra can reproduce both sexually and asexually.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In vegetative reproduction, fragmentation takes place, and Spirogyra simply undergoes intercalary cell division to extend the length of the new filaments.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Sexual reproduction is of two types:

  1. Scalariform conjugation requires association of two or more different filaments lined side by side, either partially or throughout their length. One cell each from opposite lined filaments emits tubular protuberances known as conjugation tubes, which elongate and fuse to make a passage called the conjugation canal. The cytoplasm of the cell acting as the male travels through this tube and fuses with the female cytoplasm, and the gametes fuse to form a zygospore.
  2. In lateral conjugation, gametes are formed in a single filament. Two adjoining cells near the common transverse wall give out protuberances known as conjugation tubes, which further form the conjugation canal upon contact. The male cytoplasm migrates through the conjugation canal, fusing with the female. The rest of the process proceeds as in scalariform conjugation.

The essential difference is that scalariform conjugation occurs between two filaments and lateral conjugation occurs between two adjacent cells on the same filament.

UsageEdit

Spirogyra species are being researched for their potential in bioremediation. Specifically, in stemming toxic runoff from mines (where they are often found occurring naturally)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and from municipal wastewater.<ref name="Ge-2018">Template:Cite journal</ref> Spirogyra has also been investigated as a potential biofuel.<ref name="Ge-2018" />

Spirogyra species, such as S. varians, are also being researched for potential pharmaceutical usage due to their high nutrient densities.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

SpeciesEdit

The following species are currently accepted. For a more comprehensive and up-to-date list of currently accepted species, view the pages on AlgaeBase or WoRMS. Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

TriviaEdit

American jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra was named after this genus of algae.

It is also the subject of the Brazilian Samba rock song "Spirogyra story" by Jorge Ben.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

GalleryEdit

  • 20090523 213732 Spirogyra.jpg

    Spirogyra

  • 3x2 millimeters of Spirogyra.jpg

    Spirogyra

  • Spirogyra cell.jpg

    Single Spirogyra cell

  • 20090328 2222 Spirogyra.jpg

    Spirogyra (Each numbered tick = 122 μm)

  • 20090328 2225 Spirogyra.jpg

    Spirogyra (Each numbered tick = 20 μm)

  • Spirogyra algae under microscope.jpg

    Patch of Spirogyra from algal blooming in Westfalian pond

  • Spirogyra-bgiu.jpg

    Spirogyra algal bloom in Romanian pond

ReferencesEdit

Template:Sister project Template:Reflist

  • John Whitton, B.A. and Brook, A.J. (editors) 2002. The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Template:ISBN.

Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://zalansite.site/mediawiki/index.php?title=Spirogyra&oldid=592929"