Superphylum Alveolata Flashcards
Common name of Alveolates?
They are unicellular, animal-like protozoans.
What are the synapomorphies of the superphylum Alveolata?
The superphylum has a sac called an alveolus.
Mostly free-living and motile
Superphylum Alveolata
Can Alveolates be parasitic?
Yes
How many species are in Superphylum Alveolata?
64,000 species
What type of species are the alveolates, consumers or producers?
Primary consumers
List some important alveolates
Paramecium caudatum, Ceratium hirundinella, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum
Which alveolate is ciliated?
Paramecium caudatum
What alveolate has a cellulose test?
Ceratium hirundinella
List details of a Ceratium hirundinella
It’s a dinoflagellate, with an equatorial flagellum and a cellulose test. Causes red tides.
What causes the disease malaria?
Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum
What is malaria’s vector?
Mosquitos
Describe the life cycle of malaria in the mosquito?
The mosquito ingests the plasmodium via GAMETOCYTES, which change in gametes within the mosquitos gut. Gametes to zygote, the disease grows (encysts) in the zygote, changing it’s shape. SPOROZOITES break free and get injected into a human host by a mosquito bite
What does the disease malaria attack?
Red blood cells
What does the disease malaria attack?
Red blood cells