Dinoflagellates. of heterotrophic dinoflagellates in the ecosystem of the Gulf of Gdansk by estimating their biomass and com- paring it with the biomass of other plankters. Most certainly, they have an autotrophic ancestor. Some are photosynthetic autotrophs and some species are heterotrophs, which get their nutrients by phagocytosis. 0 Inter-Research 1995 Dinoflagellates have characteristics of both plants and animals. Heterotrophic and autotrophic dinoflagellates are common components of the commu- nity of organisms that inhabit marine snow (Beers et … Marine thecate heterotrophic dinoflagellates likely play an important role in the consumption of primary productivity and in the trophic structure of the plankton, yet we know little about these species. Nutritional modes of dinoflagellates can vary from autotrophic to mixotrophic whereby photosynthetic cells may be phagotrophic—even on other dinoflagellates (Kimor, 1981; Gaines & Elbrächter, 1987). Many studies indicate that heterotrophic dinoflagellates require higher concentrations of prey than are normally present in the open ocean. Do dinoflagellates contain bright yellow pigments or can they be both photosynthetic and heterotrophic or many species are luminescent or possess pillbox-shaped cell walls of silica? This thesis expanded our understanding of the autecology and … Heterotrophic species can have specialized structures, such as peduncles, used in … They can be either photosynthetic autotrophs or heterotrophs, and they normally reproduce asexually unless conditions are unfavorable. Dinoflagellates are unicellular protists found floating in bodies of fresh or saltwater. Photosynthetic dinoflagellates form one of the largest group of eukaryotic algae apart from diatoms. Dinoflagellates can be extremely numerous, with concentrations being measured up to 30,000 individuals per cubic millimeter. Dinoflagellates are therefore an important source of food in certain ecosystems. Dinoflagellates exhibit extensive morphological diversity and can be photosynthetic, heterotrophic, or mixotrophic. The story is reverse with dinoflagellates. Mixotrophic dinoflagellates are organisms with photosynthetic capacity but also ingest nutrients from outside simultaneously. Not all dinoflagellates are authotrophs, some are heterotrophic. Many dinoflagellates are encased in interlocking plates of cellulose with two perpendicular flagella that fit into the grooves between the cellulose plates. It was fre- quently unclear whether a given species was an auto- or a heterotroph, and thus it was necessary to examine the cells for the presence of chlorophyll. Cyst produced by both autotrophic and heterotrophic dinoflagellates generally respond positively to upwelling in the basin. 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