Euglena viridis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Euglena viridis is a freshwater, single cell, mixotroph microalgae bearing a secondary chloroplast.[1] Their chloroplast is bounded by three layers of membrane without a nucleomorph.[2] Normally, it is 40–65 μm long, slightly bigger than other well-known Euglena species: Euglena gracilis.[3]
| Euglena viridis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Phylum: | Euglenozoa |
| Class: | Euglenida |
| Clade: | Euglenophyceae |
| Order: | Euglenales |
| Family: | Euglenaceae |
| Genus: | Euglena |
| Species: | E. viridis |
| Binomial name | |
| Euglena viridis (O.F.Müller) Ehrenberg | |
Taxonomy
The whole group of Euglenozoa was originally placed in a group called Excavata. However, Excavata has been thought not monophyletic and is divided into several groups. Now, Euglenozoa is placed below a group in Discoba.[4]
Euglena viridis is one of the first Euglena species when Ehrenberg established the genus Euglena.[2] Euglena viridis is also the type species of this genus.[5]
Morphology
Morphologically, Euglena viridis can be distinguished from other Euglena species by its one axial, stellate chloroplast with a paramylon center in it. But there are still five species sharing these morphological features.[2]
Molecular evidence
The phylogenetic trees of the Euglena genus still have some clades with polytomy. The phylogenetic relationship of Euglena viridis with other Euglena species is still unclear until 2017.[2]
Accessibility
Euglena viridis is common and cosmopolitan in bodies of water rich in organic compounds.[2] It can also be bought through some institutions[6][7] and can be maintained by replenishing it with fresh tap water and fresh leaf blades once a week.[3] Such accessibility lets it easily be used. For example, a research tests new cultivating system by cultivating Euglena viridis.[3] And Euglena viridis is also used as teaching material in biology class in order to demonstrate important biology concepts such as phylogenetic relationship[8] and growth of population.[9]
Pollution tolerance and biodegradation
In a wastewater biodegradation system, algae can provide the oxygen that heterotrophic bacteria need for the degradation of organic matter.[10] Euglena is considered to be the most pollution tolerant genus among all algae genus.[11] The ability to live in polluted water bodies have let Euglena viridis be used as an oxygen producer in wastewater biodegrading systems; it has been proven that Euglena viridis can enhance biodegradation in piggery wastewater degradation system.[10]
References
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