Chrysophytes are beautiful and delicate organisms living mostly in freshwater. They are pivotal for studies of protistan evolution, studies of food web dynamics in oligotrophic freshwater ecosystems, and for assessment of environmental degradation resulting from eutrophication and acid rain. They also represent excellent model cellular systems for studying processes inherent in basic metabolism, biomineralization, endo- and exocytosis and macro-assembly of cell surface layers. This book gives a broad overview of chrysophytes and contains chapters by leading experts organized under the themes of phylogeny, systematics and evolution; development, physiology, and nutrition; and ecology, paleoecology, and reproduction. The book contains major contributions towards a reorganization of chrysophyte systematics, plus comprehensive reviews of chrysophyte basic metabolism, biomineralization and siliceous scale deposition, ecology, paleoecology, and a history of chrysophyte research. Contributors present reviews of the literature in their particular area and also present ideas for future research.

Chrysophytes are beautiful and delicate organisms living mostly in freshwater. They are pivotal for studies of protistan evolution, studies of food web dynamics in oligotrophic freshwater ecosystems, and for assessment of environmental degradation resulting from eutrophication and acid rain. They also represent excellent model cellular systems for studying processes inherent in basic metabolism, biomineralization, endo- and exocytosis and macro-assembly of cell surface layers. This book gives a broad overview of chrysophytes and contains chapters by leading experts organized under the themes of phylogeny, systematics and evolution; development, physiology, and nutrition; and ecology, paleoecology, and reproduction. The book contains major contributions towards a reorganization of chrysophyte systematics, plus comprehensive reviews of chrysophyte basic metabolism, biomineralization and siliceous scale deposition, ecology, paleoecology, and a history of chrysophyte research. Contributors present reviews of the literature in their particular area and also present ideas for future research.

Growth and Reproductive Strategies of Freshwater Phytoplankton brings both the phycological (i.e. botanical) and limnological (i.e. ecological) literature into focus to reveal the morphological, reproductive and physiological characteristics of these microscopic organisms. Emphasis is on adaptive strategies for survival in stressful and seasonally changing aquatic habitats. The synthesis of this literature from an organismal and evolutionary perspective is unique. The following important groups of planktonic algae are considered: cyanobacteria, green algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, cryptomonads, and chrysophyte flagellates. For each algal group, the importance of both growth and loss processes influencing biogeography and seasonality is emphasised. Where appropriate, the importance of sexual reproduction and benthic resting stages is considered. The final three chapters bring together data on three major ecological processes relevant to phytoplankton, i.e. resource competition, grazing by herbivorous zooplankton, and morphological and physiological 'packaging plans' of algal cells.