Slime Mould
Question 1: State a few characteristics of Slime moulds
Answer:
- Deficiency of chlorophyll in the cell.
- The vegetative phase lacks a cell wall but a cellulose-rich cell wall is present in spores.
- At a particular stage, they have an amoeboid body structure.
- They are usually located in decaying areas and are found on lawns and moist fields.
- They reproduce in both modes i.e. Sexually and Asexually. Sexually using the gametes and Asexually with the help of spores.
- Slime moulds represent both protozoa and true fungi. They are similar to protozoa in the amoeboid plasmodial stage and resemble fungi in abundant spore formation.
Question 2: Give a few examples of cellular and acellular slime moulds
Answer:
- Cellular slime moulds: Dictyostelium, Polysphondylium, Acytostelium
- Acellular slime moulds: Physarum, Physarella, Fuligo, Dictydium, Lyсоgala, Tubifera.
Question 3: What are slime moulds?
Answer:
They are simple organisms that contain an acellular mass of gelatinous protoplasm containing nuclei in it. After reaching a particular size it forms a large number of spore cases. They are named after their gelatinous and slimy appearance.
Question 4: Discuss the habitat of slime moulds.
Answer:
They are usually found in places where decaying leaves, twigs, logs of wood and other decaying material are present. They grow in damp places rich in decomposing vegetation matter. Also found in the forest areas and during rainy seasons. These moulds also occur in humus containing the upper layer of damp soil.
Question 5: What is the significance of Slime moulds?
Answer:
Mostly they feed on microorganisms that live on any type of dead plant and animals matter. They greatly contribute to the decomposition of dead remains of plants and animals. They act as biological decomposers and recyclers of nutrients in the food web. They consume bacteria, yeasts and fungi as food.
Slime Moulds
All the living organisms on earth are grouped together according to their similarities, dissimilarities and phylogenetic order. The scientific method of arranging organisms into different groups and subgroups is known as biological classification. Classification of organisms is important as it helps in identifying new organisms. The study of every organism is not possible so they are divided into separate groups and selective organisms of the group are studied which gives sufficient information about the group. A better understanding of relationships among different groups of organisms.