Published 4 issues per year
ISSN Print: 1521-9429
ISSN Online: 1940-4328
Indexed in
Morphofunctional aspects of body form diversity in algae
ABSTRACT
A morphological series of different habits of body forms in algae (spherical, cylindrical and lamellar) is considered using methods of morphological ecology. The analysis of interrelation between the specific surface (S/W - the ratio responsible for the intensity of metabolic processes) and habit parameters of the morphological series has shown that the spherical form does not depend to the greatest extent on S/W. The latter makes it possible to increase, without sacrificing the metabolic processes, its dimensional-weight characteristics and to change configuration. The quantitative analysis between S/W and functionally dependent parameters of the mentioned forms has demonstrated that at the size of 25 mm the advantages of metabolic processes in the spherical form are 1.5 times higher than those in the cylindrical one and three times higher than in the lamellar form. These advantages disappear at the size of 200 mm, hence the lower boundary of the diameter in planktonic algae, which are predominantly spherical forms, is explained. The properties of the considered morphological series reflect the process of its formation that proceeded simultaneously with evolution of the biosphere. The transition from the spherical to lamellar form corresponds to the adaptation of the algoflora to lowering of metabolic processes at the formation of climax communities.