Karenia brevis: Difference between revisions
FabriciusJ (talk | contribs) |
FabriciusJ (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
==Description and Signficance== | ==Description and Signficance== | ||
<br><br> | <br>Karenia brevis is an aquatic marine dinoflagellate in the phylum Protozoa and super group Alveolates. This Protist is of microscopic proportion usually between 20 and 40 μm in size. These unicellular, flagellated, photosynthetic organisms have cellulose plates (theca) that surround the cell. The plates are secreted by Alveoli (membrane bound vesicles just below the cell membrane) hence their super group name and create the outer boundary for the cell. Located on the cellulose plates are two grooves called the transverse and longitudinal groove. K. brevis has two flagella and these grooves are where the flagellum are attached. One flagellum raps around the body of the cell in the transverse groove, while the other extends from the body of the cell on the longitudinal groove. Using their flagella for locomotion they are able to have some source of propelling movement in the water column. | ||
These dinoflagellates are usually found in abundant masses near coastal waters in warmer conditions. Though they are found in several other places in the vast ocean water, this area is of particular concern. K. brevis has an active involvement in harmful algal or “red tides” off the coasts of Florida and California. This is a problem due to the potent neurotoxins called brevetoxin’s that these cells create, and when there is an abundance or bloom of these organisms’ resources become limited. There is more competition for space and sunlight, as these organisms die from lack of resources they release their neurotoxins. The neutoxin’s cause all sorts of environmental and economic problems such as massive fish kills, fisheries crashing, paralytic shellfish poisoning, etc. This is a dangerous time for humans to eat seafood and can cause some major health problems and diseases.<br> | |||
==Genome Structure== | ==Genome Structure== | ||
Revision as of 18:13, 2 February 2012
Classification
Kingdom: Protozoa
Phylum: Dinophyta
Class: Dinophyceae
Genus: Karenia
Species: brevis
Description and Signficance
Karenia brevis is an aquatic marine dinoflagellate in the phylum Protozoa and super group Alveolates. This Protist is of microscopic proportion usually between 20 and 40 μm in size. These unicellular, flagellated, photosynthetic organisms have cellulose plates (theca) that surround the cell. The plates are secreted by Alveoli (membrane bound vesicles just below the cell membrane) hence their super group name and create the outer boundary for the cell. Located on the cellulose plates are two grooves called the transverse and longitudinal groove. K. brevis has two flagella and these grooves are where the flagellum are attached. One flagellum raps around the body of the cell in the transverse groove, while the other extends from the body of the cell on the longitudinal groove. Using their flagella for locomotion they are able to have some source of propelling movement in the water column.
These dinoflagellates are usually found in abundant masses near coastal waters in warmer conditions. Though they are found in several other places in the vast ocean water, this area is of particular concern. K. brevis has an active involvement in harmful algal or “red tides” off the coasts of Florida and California. This is a problem due to the potent neurotoxins called brevetoxin’s that these cells create, and when there is an abundance or bloom of these organisms’ resources become limited. There is more competition for space and sunlight, as these organisms die from lack of resources they release their neurotoxins. The neutoxin’s cause all sorts of environmental and economic problems such as massive fish kills, fisheries crashing, paralytic shellfish poisoning, etc. This is a dangerous time for humans to eat seafood and can cause some major health problems and diseases.
Genome Structure
Cell Structure and Metabolism
Ecology
Pathology
Current Research
Cool Factor
