Bacillariophyta

Outline

Bacillariophyta -- diatoms

Introduction

Cells

only one tinsel flagellum

use fat as reserve material

siliceous cell wall = frustule

frustule = 2 valves + girdle bands

epivalve & hypovalve

Taxonomy

Pennales ("pennates")
bilateral symmetry

may have raphe

2 big chloroplasts

Centrales ("centrics")

radial symmetry

no raphe

central vacuole w/ many small discoid chloroplasts

Life cycle -- diplontic

cued by decrease in cell size
Centrics -- oogamous w/ flagellated sperm

Pennates -- isogamous

zygote forms auxospore

Ecology

marine
importance

problems

endosymbioses

freshwater

planktonic

periphytic

Fossil diatoms

diatomaceous earth: of economic importance

paleontological studies -- past climate and lake status

Vocabulary

click here to go to Bacillariophyta vocabulary


on to the next topic -- brown algae

Plant Diversity main page | Bill's Homepage | Biology Department Homepage