Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of placoderm desmid (Cosmarium botrytis). Desmids are freshwater, unicellular green algae that have a symm
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of placoderm desmid (Cosmarium botrytis). Desmids are freshwater, unicellular green algae that have a symmetrical appearance. There are two groups of desmids: the Placoderm and the Saccoderm desmids. The placoderm desmid cell is divided in two symmetrical halves (semicells) that show a remarkable variation in shape and surface ornamentation. The placoderm desmid is separated by a median constriction called the isthmus. At cell division the cell splits in two at the isthmus, with each half generating a replica of itself to restore the original shape. Because desmids thrive in clear and nutrient poor freshwater, they are important to ecologists in assessing and monitoring wetland areas. Magnification: x400 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.
Size: 2613px × 3483px
Photo credit: © DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 29753d, alga, algae, algal, botrytis, cell, celled, cellulose, charophyta, chlorophyta, chlorophyte, chloroplast, chloroplasts, colored, coloured, cosmarium, desmid, desmidiaceae, desmids, dual, ecological, ecology, electron, eukaryote, eukaryotic, false-colored, false-coloured, fresh, freshwater, gamophyceae, green, hemicell, hemicells, indicator, isthmus, micrograph, micrographicell, micrographicells, monitoring, ornamentation, photosynthesis, photosynthetic, placoderm, protist, protista, scanning, sem, semi-cell, semi-cellular, single, single-celled, symmetrical, unicellular, wall, water, zygnematales
