Chlamydomonas (Chlorophyta) | Cell structure of Chlamydomonas | Nutrition in Chlamydomonas | Reproduction in Chlamydomonas

 Chlamydomonas 

(Chlorophyta)

• Chlamydomonas is the name of unicellular green algae which live in freshwater. They are single-cell organisms that are approximately 0.02 mm in length.
• They are mostly found in spherical shapes. 
• They have a cell wall, a cell membrane, a central nucleus, vacuoles, etc.
• They also have flagella through which the Chlamydomonas show some locomotion in water.
• The flagella arise normally from their cell membrane.
• Most of its cell's area is covered by its large chloroplast which helps in photosynthesis.
• A protein region is also present in Chlamydomonas's chloroplast which is normally called a pyrenoid. This protein region is involved in starch production.
• Chlamydomonas also have a special structure called eye stigma. This structure is light-sensitive and thus helps in locomotion.

An un-labeled, animated cell structure of Chlamydomonas 

Nutrition in Chlamydomonas: 

• Chlamydomonas have chloroplast in their cell's structure which helps in photosynthesis and thus they are autotrophs that perform photosynthesis to make their food.
• They are mostly found in salty regions of water where a healthy amount of dissolved carbon dioxide is present because they need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. 
• They can make starch by photosynthesis. 

 

 Reproduction in Chlamydomonas: 

• Chlamydomonas shows both sexual and asexual modes of reproduction. 
• In the asexual mode of reproduction, simple cell division takes place.
• In the early stages of cell division, Chlamydomonas prepares itself. For this purpose, the grows in size.
• Then the flagella are no longer extended and the cytoplasm starts to shrink slightly inside the cell. 
• Then the process of mitosis and meiosis occurs which forms new cells of chlorophyta.
• A Chlamydomonas cell divides three times by a series of cell divisions.
• The first time a cell divides into two cells, and the second time these two cells make four cells and then the third division occurs which total number reaches eight in number.
• In this way, a Chlamydomonas cell divides and forms eight cells.
• These eight cells then undergo sexual reproduction and form a new Chlamydomonas.
• All of the newly formed eight cells develop cell walls around themselves for their protection.
• When these cells are in the state of having a cell wall around them, they do not show any reproduction.
• After some time, they lost their cell walls and swam freely in water.
• Now these cells show reproduction by fusing with other individuals.
• They fuse in pairs to form the zygote.
• After the fusion occurs and a zygote is formed, the zygote develops a protective layer around itself. 
• Flagella also started to arise from this zygote. 
• Sexual reproduction can be isogamy, anisogamy, or oogamy in their mode of reproduction.