Difference Between Diatoms and Dinoflagellates

The key difference between diatoms and dinoflagellates is that the diatoms have a cell wall composed of silica while the dinoflagellates have a cell wall composed of cellulose. Phytoplanktons are algae that are single-celled eukaryotic cells.

1. How are diatoms and dinoflagellates different?
2. Are dinoflagellates diatoms?
3. What is one characteristic that you could observe to distinguish diatoms and dinoflagellates?
4. Why are diatoms and dinoflagellates so important?
5. Why are diatoms so important?
6. Can diatoms move?
7. Are dinoflagellates harmful to humans?
8. Are dinoflagellates dangerous?
9. Do dinoflagellates produce oxygen?
10. What two characteristics might distinguish brown and red algae?

How are diatoms and dinoflagellates different?

Unlike diatoms, dinoflagellates are mobile through the use of a flagella. Also unlike diatoms, they do not have an external skeleton made of silica, however they are protected by cellulose. Dinoflagellates are typically solitary and do not form chains like diatoms. Like the diatom they reproduce through fission.

Are dinoflagellates diatoms?

In terms of number of species, dinoflagellates are one of the largest groups of marine eukaryotes, although this group is substantially smaller than diatoms. Some species are endosymbionts of marine animals and play an important part in the biology of coral reefs.

What is one characteristic that you could observe to distinguish diatoms and dinoflagellates?

Diatoms have a cell wall that includes silica, while dinoflagellates have a cell wall that includes cellulose. Explanation: Diatoms are unicellular algae. Some of them can live in colonies forming filaments or ribbons, they are surrounded by a cell wall made of silica called a frustula.

Why are diatoms and dinoflagellates so important?

Diatoms and dinoflagellates are the dominating phytoplankton groups world-wide and therefore the most important prey organisms for zooplankton (Heiskanen, 1998; Beaugrand et al., 2014). They appear to be functional surrogates, as both compete for the new nutrients in spring and are able to produce spring blooms.

Why are diatoms so important?

Diatoms are unicellular eukaryotic microalgae that play important ecological roles on a global scale. Diatoms are responsible for 20% of global carbon fixation and 40% of marine primary productivity. Thus they are major contributors to climate change processes, and form a substantial basis of the marine food web.

Can diatoms move?

Some pennate diatoms are capable of a type of locomotion called "gliding", which allows them to move across surfaces via adhesive mucilage secreted through the raphe (an elongated slit in the valve face). In order for a diatom cell to glide, it must have a solid substrate for the mucilage to adhere to.

Are dinoflagellates harmful to humans?

Dinoflagellates can be harmful to humans. Their toxins attack the neurological system, causing illnesses such as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, Ciguatera Fish Poisoning, and Possible Estuarine Associated Syndrome.

Are dinoflagellates dangerous?

It has been reported that many dinoflagellate species can produce various natural toxins. These toxins can be extremely toxic and many of them are effective at far lower dosages than conventional chemical agents.

Do dinoflagellates produce oxygen?

Dinoflagellates are an important group of phytoplankton that produce oxygen in marine and freshwater. Sometimes dinoflagellates grow out of control, to more than a million cells per milliliter, causing an algae bloom or red tide. ...

What two characteristics might distinguish brown and red algae?

What two characteristics might you use to distinguish brown and red algae? Red algae don't have flagellum, and brown algae have fucoxanthin which gives it it's brown pigment.