Oedogonium

Oedogonium
"Oedogonium" sp., showing an oogonium (swollen cell) and antheridia (short stacked cells)
Oedogonium sp., showing an oogonium (swollen cell) and antheridia (short stacked cells)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Clade: Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Oedogoniales
Family: Oedogoniaceae
Genus: Oedogonium
Link ex Hirn, 1900[1][2]
Type species
Oedogonium grande
Species

see text

Oedogonium is a genus of filamentous, free-living green algae. It was first discovered in the fresh waters of Poland in 1860 by W. Hilse, and later given its name by German scientist K. E. Hirn.

The morphology of Oedogonium is unique, with an interior and exterior that function differently from one another and change throughout its life cycle. These algae reside in freshwater ecosystems in both hemispheres and are both benthic and planktonic in nature.[3][4][5][6][7] They form algal patches on the water's surface and so interact closely with a multitude of other algae.[8] These filamentous cells' life cycles include both sexual and asexual reproduction, depending on the life cycle stage.

Although quite common, Oedogonium is difficult to identify since key definitive markers are only present during reproduction, which is an uncommon life stage among this genus.[9] Oedogonium has been found to be important in the fixation of heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems.[10][11]

  1. ^ Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Oedogonium". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.
  2. ^ Hirn, K.E. (1900). Monographie und iconographie der Oedogoniaceen. Acta Societatis Scientiarum Fennicae 27: i-iv, 1-394, XXVII figs, XLIV plates. http://img.algaebase.org/pdf/AC100CF20809022B8CnoU2F85DC0/16779.pdf
  3. ^ Mrozińska T. 1958. Kilka nowych dla Polski i interesujących gatunków z rodzaju Oedogonium. Fragm. Flor. Geobot. Volume 4, 1,2: 247-259.
  4. ^ Mrozińska-Webb T. 1976. A study on epiphytic alga of the order Oedogoniales on the basis of materials from Southern Poland. Fragm. Flor. Geobot. Volume 22, 1,2:147-227.
  5. ^ Mrozińska T. 1981. Some species of Oedogonium New to Poland. Suplement to “Flora Polska, Oedogoniales, Chlorophyta”. Fragm. Flor. Geobot. Volume 27, 4: 677-680.
  6. ^ Mrozińska T. 1984. Flora Polski: Zielenice (Chlorophyta) Edogoniowce (Oedogoniales), PWN, WarszawaKraków.
  7. ^ Mrozińska, T. 1991: Preliminary investigation of the taxonomical classification of the genus Oedogonium Link (Oedogoniales) based on the phylogenetic relationship. Archiv für Protistenkunde. Volume 139, 1,4:85-101.
  8. ^ Khanum, A. 1982: An ecological study of freshwater algal mats. Botany. Bull. Academia Sinica. Issue 1, 23:89-104.
  9. ^ David, M.J. 2003: Freshwater Algae of North America. Ecology and Classification; Aquatic Ecology. Volume 1, 311-352.
  10. ^ Gupta, V.K. and Rastogi, A. 2008: Biosorption of lead(II) from aqueous solutions by non-living algal biomass Oedogonium sp. and Nostoc sp.—A comparative study. Journal of Hazardous Materials. Volume 64, 2:170-178.
  11. ^ Gupta, V.K. and Rastogi, A. 2009: Biosorption of hexavalent chromium by raw and acid-treated green alga Oedogonium hatei from aqueous solutions. Journal of Hazardous Materials. Volume 163, 1:396-402.