Part 9

The Syngeneticæ are closely related to certain forms in the animal kingdom, as the Flagellatæ.

Order 1. =Chrysomonadinaceæ.= Individuals, uni- or multicellular, swimming in free condition, naked or surrounded by a mucilaginous covering. The cells are generally oval or elongated, with 2 (rarely only 1) cilia, almost of the same length, and generally with a red “eye-spot” at their base, and with 2 (rarely 1 only) band-shaped chromatophores. Reproduction by the longitudinal division of the individual cells either during the swarming, or during a resting stage; in the multicellular forms also by the liberation of one or more cells, which in the latter case are connected together.

A. Unicellular: Chromulina, Cryptoglena, Microglena, Nephroselmis.

B. Multicellular: Uroglena, Syncrypta (Fig. 11), Synura.

Among the unicellular Chrysomonadinaceæ are probably classed some forms which are only stages in the development of the multicellular, or of other Syngeneticæ.

Order 2. =Chrysopyxaceæ= are unicellular, and differ mainly from the preceding in being attached either on a slime-thread (Stylochrysalis), or enclosed in an envelope (Chrysopyxis, Fig. 12). They have two cilia, and multiply by longitudinal (Chrysopyxis) or transverse division, and the swarming of one of the daughter-individuals (zoospore). Division may also take place in a motionless stage (palmella-stage).

Order 3. =Dinobryinaceæ.= The individuals are originally attached, uni- or multicellular; each individual cell is distinctly contractile, and fixed at the bottom of a cup-shaped, open envelope. Cilia 2, but of unequal length. Asexual reproduction by zoospores, which are formed by straight or oblique longitudinal division of the mother-cell, during a palmella-stage which is produced in the winter aplanospores. Epipyxis, Dinobryon.

Order 4. =Hydruraceæ.= The individuals are attached, without cilia, multicellular, branched, and with apical growth. The cells are spherical, but in the final stage almost spindle-shaped, and embedded in large masses of mucilage. Asexual reproduction by zoospores which are tetrahedric, with 1 cilia, and by resting akinetes. Hydrurus is most common in mountain brooks.

Class 2. =Dinoflagellata.=

The individuals are of a very variable form, but always unicellular, and floating about in free condition. The cell is dorsiventral, bilateral, asymmetric and generally surrounded by a colourless membrane, which has no silica embedded in it, but is formed of a substance allied to cellulose. The membrane, which externally is provided with pores and raised borders, easily breaks up into irregularly-shaped pieces. In the forms which have longitudinal and cross furrows, two cilia are fixed where these cross each other, and project through a cleft in the membrane; one of these cilia projects freely and is directed longitudinally to the front or to the rear, the other one stretches crosswise and lies close to the cell, often in a furrow (cross furrow). The chromatophores are coloured brown or green and may either be two parallel (Exuviella), or several radially placed, discs, which sometimes may coalesce and become a star-shaped chromatophore. The coloring material (pyrrophyl) consists, in addition to a modification of chlorophyl, also of phycopyrrin and peridinin; this colour is sometimes more or less masked by the products of assimilation which consist of yellow, red or colourless oil (?) and starch. Cell-nucleus one: in Polydinida several nuclei are found; contractile vacuoles many, which partly open in the cilia-cleft (Fig. 13 gs). In some an eye-spot, coloured red by hæmatochrome, is found. Pyrenoids occur perhaps in Exuviella and Amphidinium.

THE REPRODUCTION takes place as far as is known at present, only by division. This, in many salt water forms, may take place in the swarming condition, and, in that case, is always parallel to the longitudinal axis. The daughter-individuals, each of which retains half of the original shell, sometimes do not separate at once from each other, and thus chains (e.g. in Ceratium) of several connected individuals may be formed. In others, the division occurs after the cilia have been thrown off and the cell-contents rounded. The daughter-cells then adopt entirely new cell-walls. A palmella-stage (motionless division-stage) sometimes appears to take place, and also aplanospores (?) with one or two horn-like elongations (e.g. in Peridinium cinctum and P. tabulatum); at germination one, or after division, two or more, new individuals may be formed.

Sexual reproduction has not been observed with certainty.

The Dinoflagellata move forward or backward, turning round their longitudinal axes; in their motion they are influenced by the action of light. The motion possibly may be produced only by the transverse cilium, which vibrates rapidly; whilst the longitudinal cilium moves slowly, and is supposed to serve mainly as a steering apparatus. They live principally in salt water, but also in fresh.

Besides the coloured forms, which are able to make their own organic compounds by the splitting up of the carbonic acid contained in the water, there are a few colourless forms (e.g. Gymnodinium spirale), or such as do not possess chromatophores (Polykrikos); these appear to live saprophytically, and may be able to absorb solid bodies with which they come in contact.

Dinoflagellata occur in the “Plankton” of the open sea, where they form together with Diatomaceæ the basis for the animal life. It is known with certainty that some salt water forms (like the Noctiluca, which belongs to the animal kingdom and to which they are perhaps related) produce light, known as phosphorescence.

Dinoflagellata (Peridinea, Cilioflagellata) are allied through their lowest form (Exuviella) to the Syngeneticæ and especially to the order Chrysomonadinaceæ. They may be divided into three orders.

Order 1. =Adinida.= Without transverse or longitudinal furrows, but enclosed in two shells, and with two parallel chromatophores in each cell. Exuviella, Prorocentrum.

Order 2. =Dinifera.= With tranverse and generally longitudinal furrow. Many radially-placed, disc-formed chromatophores. The most common genera are--Ceratium (Fig. 13), Peridinium, Glenodinium (Fig. 13), Gymnodinium, Dinophysis.

Order 3. =Polydinida.= With several transverse furrows, no chromatophores, and several cell-nuclei. Only one genus--Polykrikos.

The order Polydinida deviates in a high degree from the other Dinoflagellata, not only by its many tranverse furrows, each with its own transverse cilium, and by the absence of chromatophores, but also in having several cell-nuclei and a kind of stinging capsule, which otherwise does not occur within the whole class. It may therefore be questionable whether this order should really be placed in the vegetable kingdom.

Class 3. =Diatomeæ.=

The individuals--each known as a frustule--assume very various forms and may be unicellular or multicellular, but present no differentiation; many similar cells may be connected in chains, embedded in mucilaginous masses, or attached to mucilaginous stalks. The cells are bilateral or centric, often asymmetrical, slightly dorsiventral and have no cilia; those living in the free condition have the power of sliding upon a firm substratum. The cell contains 1 cell-nucleus and 1–2 plate-shaped or several disc-shaped chromatophores. The colouring material “Melinophyl” contains, in addition to a modification of chlorophyl, a brown colouring matter, diatomin. 1 or 2 pyrenoids sometimes occur. Starch is wanting and the first product of assimilation appears to be a kind of oil (?).

The cell-walls are impregnated with silica to such a degree that they are imperishable and are therefore able to contribute in a great measure to the formation of the earth’s crust. The structure of their cell-wall is most peculiar and differs from all other plants (except certain Desmidiaceæ); it does not consist of a single piece but is made up of two--the “shells”--(compare Exuviella and Prorocentrum among the Dinoflagellata) which are fitted into each other, one being a little larger than the other and embracing its edge, like a box with its lid (Fig. 14 B). The two parts which correspond to the bottom and lid of the box are known as valves. Along the central line of the valves a longitudinal rib may often be found, interrupted at its centre by a small cleft (perhaps homologous with the cilia-cleft of the Dinoflagellata), through which the protoplasm is enabled to communicate with the exterior (Fig. 14 A). It is principally by reason of the valves, which bear numerous fine, transverse ribs, striæ or warts, etc. (Figs. 14, 15, 17), that the Diatomeæ have become so well known and employed as test objects in microscopical science. When the division takes place, the two shells are separated a little from each other, and after the cell-contents have divided into two masses, two new shells are formed, one fitting into the larger valve, the other one into the smaller valve of the original frustule. The latter cell (frustule) is thus, upon the whole, smaller than the mother-cell, and as the cells do not increase in size, some frustules are smaller than the ones from which they are derived, and thus, by repeated divisions, it follows that smaller and smaller frustules are produced. This continued diminution in size is, however, compensated for by the formation, when the cells have been reduced to a certain minimum, of auxospores, 2–3 times larger. These may either be formed asexually by the protoplasm of a cell increasing, rounding off and surrounding itself with a new wall (e.g. Melosira) or after conjugation, which may take place with various modifications: 1. Two individuals unite after the secretion of a quantity of mucilage, and the valves then commence to separate from each other, on the side which the two individuals turn towards each other. The protoplasmic bodies now release themselves from their cell-wall, and each rounds off to form an ellipsoidal mass; these two protoplasmic masses (gametes) coalesce to form a zygote, the cell-nuclei and chromatophores also fusing together. The zygote increases in size, and surrounds itself with a firm, smooth, siliceous wall--the perizonium. The auxospores, whichever way they arise, are not resting stages. The germination of the zygote commences by the protoplasm withdrawing itself slightly from the cell-wall and constructing first the larger valve, and later on the smaller one; finally the membrane of the zygote bursts (e.g. Himantidium). 2. The conjugation occurs in a similar manner, but the protoplasm of the cells divides transversely before conjugation into two daughter-cells. Those lying opposite one another conjugate (Fig. 16) and form two zygotes. The formation of the perizonium, and germination take place as in the preceding instance (e.g. Epithemia). 3. Two cells place themselves parallel to each other, and each of the two cell-contents, without coalescing, becomes an auxospore. The formation of the wall takes place as in the preceding case. This is found in the Naviculeæ, Cymbelleæ, the Gomphonemeæ (e.g. Frustulia, Cocconema).

The Diatomaceæ may be found in salt as well as in fresh water (often in such masses that the colour of the water or mud becomes yellow or brown; in the same manner the genera Chætoceros, Rhizosolenia, Coscinodiscus, and several others, form large slime-masses, “Plankton” on the surface of the sea), on damp soil and in dust blown by the wind. They occur as fossils in the recent formations, often in large deposits (siliceous earth, mountain meal), as in the cement lime in Jutland, the alluvial deposits beneath Berlin, in clay strata beneath peat bogs, in guano, etc. These accumulations of fossilized diatoms are used in the manufacture of dynamite and in various manufactures.

The Diatomaceæ appear nearest to, and must be placed as a group co-ordinate with the Dinoflagellata, as they doubtless may be supposed to derive their origin from forms resembling Exuviella, and to have lost the cilia. The resemblances to the Desmidiaceæ which are striking in many respects, can only be conceived as analogies, and cannot be founded upon homologies, and it is therefore impossible to regard them as proof of genetic relationship. The family contains only one order.

Order 1. =Diatomaceæ.= This order may be divided into two sub-orders, viz.--

Sub-Order 1. =Placochromaticæ.= The chromatophores are discoid, large, 1 or 2 in each cell; the structure of the valves is bilateral and always without reticulate markings. The following groups belong to this sub-order: Gomphonemeæ, Cymbelleæ, Amphoreæ, Achnantheæ, Cocconeideæ, Naviculeæ, Amphipleureæ, Plagiotropideæ, Amphitropideæ, Nitzchieæ, Surirayeæ, and Eunotieæ.

Sub-Order 2. =Coccochromaticæ.= The chromatophores are granular, small and many in each cell. The structure of the cells is zygomorphic or centric, often with reticulate markings. The following groups belong to this sub-order: Fragilarieæ, Meridieæ, Tabellarieæ, Licmophoreæ, Biddulphieæ, Anguliferæ, Eupodisceæ, Coscinodisceæ, and Melosireæ.