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Movement by microbes
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Microbial ecology

Effects of ozone depletion on Antarctic marine microbes

It's the small things that count

'10 facts' on flora

Marine Microbial Ecology

Movement by microbes

Movement by microorganisms in water is very different from that of humans and other large animals due to the overwhelming effects of viscosity at small size scales. Microbial swimming (equivalent to humans swimming in molasses) requires special techniques. Successful techniques are the "flexible oar" (cilium), the "corkscrew" (forward facing flagellum) and cellular deformation.

Click on the following images to view the
QuickTime movies.

Movement using flagella

The prasinophyte Pyramimonas sp. stuck on marine snow particle with diatom shells. The cell has four flagella that normally propel it through the water.

The prasinophyte Pyramimonas sp.
showing four flagella.
Image: Harvey Marchant

The cell uses a forward facing flagellum to reach forward and pull it through the water.

A gamete of Pyramimonas sp. moving
with a forward facing flagellum.
Image: Harvey Marchant

The cell uses a rearward facing flagellum to push it through the water.

A small flagellate moving with a
long trailing flagellum.
Image: Harvey Marchant

The cell has a small flagellum (not visible) but derives most of its forward impetus from its corkscrew motion.

A small flagellate moving with a
corkscrew motion.
Image: Harvey Marchant

Dinoflagellates have two flagella, one in a transverse groove (shown here beating), and one in a longitudinal groove (hidden).

A dinoflagellate showing its
transverse flagellum.
Image: Harvey Marchant

Movement using cilia

A large ciliate moves very effectively by beating tiny hair-like cilia on its surface.

Movement by cilia 1.
Image: Harvey Marchant

A small ciliate moves by beating several large leg-like cilia.

Movement by cilia 2:
the ciliate Strombidium sp.
Image: Harvey Marchant

A small ciliate moves by beating several large leg-like cilia.

Movement by cilia 3.
Image: Harvey Marchant

This ciliate seems to be having a good day!

Happy ciliate.
Image: Harvey Marchant

Movement by cellular deformation

An amoeboid cell moves by changing shape and thrusting one part forward.

Movement by deformation: amoeboid.
Image: Harvey Marchant

A euglenoid cell moves very slowly by repeatedly changing shape.

Movement by deformation: Euglenoid.
Image: Harvey Marchant

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Pigment analysis in oceanography

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Electron Microscopy Unit

CSIRO Marine Research