Lesson plan
Radiococcus
Radiococcus is a genus of green algae in the family Radiococcaceae. It is found in the plankton of freshwater habitats. Radiococcus consists of colonies of cells embedded in a mucilage; the mucilage may have radial striations. Cells are 3–15 μm in diameter, often grouped into tetrads or arranged in a ring. The cell walls are mostly smooth, although in some species they may be warty (verrucose). Cells have a single nucleus and a single parietal chloroplast with one pyrenoid. Radiococcus reproduces asexually via the formation of autospores. Four to eight autospores are produced per sporangium; they are released when the mother cell wall fragments. Cell wall fragments remain in the mucilage for some time before dissolving. Radiococcus is considered an ill-defined genus in need of taxonomic revision. It is similar to Planktosphaeria, which has multiple chloroplasts per cell, and Korschpalmella, which lacks pyrenoids.
Article summary
Radiococcus is a genus of green algae in the family Radiococcaceae. It is found in the plankton of freshwater habitats. Radiococcus consists of colonies of cells embedded in a mucilage; the mucilage may have radial striations. Cells are 3–15 μm in diameter, often grouped into tetrads or arranged in a ring. The cell walls are mostly smooth, although in some species they may be warty (verrucose). Cells have a single nucleus and a single parietal chloroplast with one pyrenoid. Radiococcus reproduces asexually via the formation of autospores. Four to eight autospores are produced per sporangium; they are released when the mother cell wall fragments. Cell wall fragments remain in the mucilage for some time before dissolving. Radiococcus is considered an ill-defined genus in need of taxonomic revision. It is similar to Planktosphaeria, which has multiple chloroplasts per cell, and Korschpalmella, which lacks pyrenoids.
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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?
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.