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PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Phytoplankton
DINOFLAGELLATES QuickFacts
Peridinium sp. with its girdle clearly visible circling the cell median.
Dinoflagellates (Phylum Pyrrophyta = Dinophyta) are perhaps the most charismatic of the phytoplankton. Not only are they beautiful to look at under the scope, they also have the most diverse types of life histories, ecological niches and unique adaptations of all the phytoplankton. They have two flagellae (which is their namesake), one that stays close to the median (pictured above) and one that trails the cell like a rudder. Although Dinoflagellates are grouped with the phytoplankton, some species are unable to photosynthesize and instead are heterotrophic - able to directly ingest food. Because they are fairly large cells, they are easily visible in plankton samples and if the samples are fresh, you can even observe their characteristic spinning movement. Like other phytoplankton, Dinoflagellates go through bloom cycles when they are highly abundant and these blooms can be toxic (commonly called red tides), or bioluminescent.
Class projects on Dinoflagellates:
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Dinoflagellates Page, by Josh Rapport.
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Gonyaulax Page, by Allison Arnold and Monica Draghici. This genus of dinoflagellates has some species that are toxic and some that bioluminesce - overall a fascinating group of organisms. Here are links to some of the components of this great website:
- Bioluminescence
- Toxicity
- Life History
Cell size: 20-200 m m
Cell wall: many materials (depends on species), including cellulose; some even lack a cell wall
Chloroplasts: many/cell, 2-5 thylakoid membranes/stack
Photo-pigments: chlorophyll a & c, carotenoids; some unpigmented
Reproduction: simple cell division, rarely sexual reproduction
Ecological roles: very diverse ecological roles, biflagellated, produce toxic blooms & bioluminescence
© 2001 Caren E. Braby