lab/lecture 2: protists 1 Flashcards

Question 1

Q

What are the defining features of Foraminifera?

Answer

A

Single-celled, amoeba-like protists.

Multichambered tests (shells).

Net-like pseudopodia (anastomosing & reticulating).

Dimorphic life cycles (microspheric/megaspheric).

~4,000 genera, 60,000 species.

Question 2

Q

Identify key features in this live foraminiferan image.

Answer

A

Pseudopodia extending to capture food.

Multichambered calcareous test.

Cytoplasm streaming through pores.

Question 3

Q

Describe the function of pseudopodia in forams.

Answer

A

Movement: Crawling/burrowing via cytoplasmic streaming.

Feeding: Capture prey (diatoms, algae) via phagocytosis.

Test Construction: Transport particles for agglutinated walls.

Question 4

Q

How do benthic forams reproduce?

Answer

A

Asexual (Microspheric): Cloning via multiple fission; planktic dispersal.

Sexual (Megaspheric): Gamete release → zygote formation.

Cycle duration: Weeks to 1 year (often lunar-synchronized).

Question 5

Q

Why are forams major chalk components?

Answer

A

Coccolithophores + planktic forams (e.g., Globigerina) dominate CaCO₃ ooze.

Accumulate below CCD (e.g., White Cliffs of Dover).

Question 6

Q

Test Shapes & Apertures

Answer

A

Evolute coil: Operculina.

Involute coil: Robulus.

Flask-shaped: Lagena.

Trochoid: Discorbis.

Question 7

Q

Differentiate these miliolids.

Answer

A

Chamber Arrangement: Triloculina (3/whorl), Quinqueloculina (5/whorl).

Aperture: Terminal with toothplate.

Question 8

Q

Describe aperture types.

Answer

A

Simple, lip/neck, toothplate, dendritic, radiate terminal.

Question 9

Q

what are the six important suborders?

Answer

A

1) Textulariina- agglutinated tests of sand grains.
2) Nodosariina (Lagenina) - mostly uniserial and sac-shaped.
3) Fusulinina- large, spindle-shaped, Permian.
4) Miliolina- tests porcelanous and imperforate.
5) Rotaliina- spiral, hyaline, most benthic genera.
6) Globigeriina- trochospiral, all planktonic.