This is Closterium moniliferum, a very special green alga, that can do a lot more than just photosynthesis. Many Closterium species have this typical half moon or crescent shape. Closterium moniliferum is around half a millimeter long. A huge size for a single celled organism. And it rarely comes alone. It usually grows into microscopic forests! The cells excrete transparent mucilage to build a matrix allowing them to stick together and to reach higher ground. Mucilage secretion also allows them to move. Think of them as tiny rocket ships in slow motion with goo coming out of their thrusters instead of fire.
The pointy ends of Closterium contain something that make it even more remarkable: Dancing Chambers. These pools in the cell are called terminal vacuoles. They contain vibrating crystals of barium, strontium or calcium sulfate. In simple terms different types of gypsum crystals. The water molecules in the vacuole bump randomly into the tiny crystals causing them to dance and vibrate in a random pattern. The so called Brownian Motion. Dancing crystals having a session in the dancing chambers, how beautiful is that! The function of these crystal chambers is largely unknown. They might help the algae to determine their orientation, a bit like a gyroscope. Or they might have biochemical functions to precipitate certain ions. If true, the crystals are something like small kidney stones. The crystals form near the nucleus and are transported by cellular plasma into the dancing chambers. The nucleus, in the centre, is the brain of the cell controlling its functions. Closterium’s DNA is contained in there. The cellular nucleus is situated between 2 massive chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are organelles containing chlorophyll and are responsible for photosynthesis. They are the power stations of the cell. Just to give you an idea how big these chloroplasts are in comparison, take a look to the cells of more evolved water plant.
These small grains wiggling around are “normal” chloroplasts. Just marvel at the size of these organelles in Closterium!! They are crazy huge!! How do these massive things evolve?! Thanks to these massive solar power plants Closterium produces huge amounts of oxygen and sugars. Which attracts a lot of other creatures. Amoebas, heliozoans, bacteria and even diatoms. All these creatures come to take a deep breath in this Closterium forest.
After Closterium’s life is expended the empty husk serves as breeding grounds for all kinds of different ciliates and funghi. Closterium is a typical first producer enabling animal life on planet earth.
Microscopes used:
Olympus CX43
Olympus BX53
Cameras:
Sony A 6400
Fuji XT4
Canon R5
Nikon Z9
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Music:
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22 июл 2024
