Lesson plan
Pyrobotrys
Pyrobotrys is a genus of green algae in the family Spondylomoraceae. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, found in fresh water rich in organic matter. Pyrobotrys consists of colonies (termed coenobia) of four, eight or 16 arranged in two or four tiers, with a star- or mulberry-like shape. Cells are spherical, ovoid, ellipsoid, or pear-shaped. Each has two equal flagella, two contractile vacuoles at the base of the flagella, and a large cup-shaped chloroplast with or without a stigma with no pyrenoids. Pyrobotrys reproduces both asexually and sexually. In asexual reproduction, each cell of the colony divides to form a daughter colony. In sexual reproduction, cells divide into 4, 8, 16, or 32 biflagellate isogametes, which fuse to form planozygotes, with four flagella. Upon germination, the planozygotes divide into four "gone cells" which then develop into new colonies. Species of Pyrobotrys are distinguished based on the shape of the cells, number of cells in a colony, presence or absence of a stigma, and shape of the planozygote.
Article summary
Pyrobotrys is a genus of green algae in the family Spondylomoraceae. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, found in fresh water rich in organic matter. Pyrobotrys consists of colonies (termed coenobia) of four, eight or 16 arranged in two or four tiers, with a star- or mulberry-like shape. Cells are spherical, ovoid, ellipsoid, or pear-shaped. Each has two equal flagella, two contractile vacuoles at the base of the flagella, and a large cup-shaped chloroplast with or without a stigma with no pyrenoids. Pyrobotrys reproduces both asexually and sexually. In asexual reproduction, each cell of the colony divides to form a daughter colony. In sexual reproduction, cells divide into 4, 8, 16, or 32 biflagellate isogametes, which fuse to form planozygotes, with four flagella. Upon germination, the planozygotes divide into four "gone cells" which then develop into new colonies. Species of Pyrobotrys are distinguished based on the shape of the cells, number of cells in a colony, presence or absence of a stigma, and shape of the planozygote.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.