What are stramenopiles in biology?

Stramenopiles is a monophyletic eukaryotic group characterized by the presence of two flagella, of which the immature flagellum bears tripartite hairs. The group comprises 21 classes with >100 000 species.

What are the defining features of stramenopiles?

Stramenopiles. Stramenopiles (also known as heterokonts) usually have a flagellate stage in the life cycle that has a characteristic type of stiff tubular ‘hairs’ arranged in two rows on one flagellum (see Patterson, 1999). These flagellates swim in the direction the hair-bearing flagellum is pointing.

What are stramenopiles and why are they important?

The brown algae (or kelp) are major autotrophs of the intertidal and subtidal marine habitats. Some of the bacterivorous stramenopiles, such as Cafeteria are common and widespread consumers of bacteria, and thus play a major role in recycling carbon and nutrients within microbial food webs.

Does stramenopiles have a nucleus?

They have organelles including a nucleus and may have chloroplasts, so some will be green and others won’t be. Where are Stramenopiles found? Their characteristic gold color results from their extensive use of carotenoids, a group of photosynthetic pigments that are generally yellow or orange in color.

Which is the best definition of a stramenopile?

(hĕt′ə-rə-kŏnt′) n. Any of numerous mostly aquatic organisms in the group Heterokonta, having zoospores or other swimming cells usually with a pair of flagella, one of which has brush-like extensions, and whose photosynthetic members have a distinctive form of chlorophyll.

What kind of algae is a stramenopile?

Stramenopiles include a particularly wide variety of algae with chlorophyll c -containing complex plastids (see above), which are often now known as ochrophytes.

Where do Stramenopiles go when they die?

Diatoms die, their hard frustules sink to the bottom of the ocean or lake, and build up layers of silica-rich sediment. This sediment is used commercially for filters, insulation, and as an abrasive. Now, not all of the stramenopile algae are unicellular like diatoms.

Are there any other unicellular Stramenopiles Besides diatoms?

Other unicellular stramenopiles include the golden algae, a group of mostly freshwater algae that have been accused of poisoning fish. Although they are only made of a single cell, both diatoms and golden algae can form massive ribbons and blooms composed of thousands of individual cells together.