Paramecium+-+OL

= = toc =Introduction=

On their own, paramecium are trying to survive in the body of freshwater they’re in. Paramecium not only can survive, but they can help the water by eating the other cell harming bacteria, to help other living things survive.The paramecium is much needed in a body of water because it cleans any polluted water from bacteria, that could harm any other living things in an instant. The paramecium uses their cilia to move to be able to clean the bacteria and germs. They can reproduce to make more cleaners to keep the water clean. They have certain structures that help them accomplish their jobs. Paramecium clean the water, and the bodies of water they live in benefit very much from the paramecium.

=How do paramecium move in their environment?=

Just like people row on a rowing boat, paramecium use their cilia that allows them to move in the water efficiently. Paramecium are about 0.2 inches long, ( http://101science.com/paramecium.htm) helping them move easily in their water easily. Cilia are small hairs on the outer edges of the paramecium that help them swim in the water. The paramecium use these hair-like strands to move to more bacteria filled water. “Paramecium use their cilia to move by beating them, so the paramecium can move in a smooth, straight path.” (“Paramecium”). The cilia can move themselves to help the whole paramecium move with a steady pace and path. Paramecium can also twist when trying to fit into tight spaces, by using their cell membrane, an organelle that helps the cell form it’s shape. The paramecium are able to move in a circle to move places, but they may also move towards other paramecium. media type="youtube" key="nUxeyl5cdso" width="538" height="306" This video shows the movement of a paramecium, including eating of the bacteria that is surrounding the cell in the water. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUxeyl5cdso) =How do paramecium reproduce?=

Paramecium can reproduce, by splitting, like two bubbles pulling apart from each other. The paramecium do not need any fertilization to reproduce, instead they just reproduce when they need to. The paramecium first start to stay still, and then they slowly start splitting themselves into two or three vertically. When this happens, it usually takes them a short period of time before one end splits off from another. This process is called fission, where one paramecium reproduces, and forms a new paramecium. The paramecium do not have a lifespan, so they can live for long periods of time, just reproducing. However, this process sometimes get confused with conjugation, where two paramecium join at the sides, sharing genetic material. This process is very different from fission, because in this process, the paramecium is able to live longer while adapting to their environment, where in fission, the whole paramecium reproduces and makes a new param ecium. “Fission and conjugation are often confused, because they look similar, however they are doing different things for different reasons.” ( https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/4444A2AE-B15A-4080-B6EE-38606CF65F6C?hasLocalHost=false ). The two processes are different, because they are doing different things. Therefore, the process of fission is to reproduce, and conjugation is to live longer. The paramecium reproduce and conjugate, using their specific organelles/parts.

=What structures do paramecium have that other cells don't?=

Just like different parts on a car to help it function, the paramecium has many parts/organelles that help the paramecium do it’s job. Paramecium have different parts to their cell that help them swim and move around. An example of this is the paramecium’s cilia, which are hair-like strands on their outside that allow them to move. To eat, the paramecium lets nutrients in by it’s oral groove, where the nutrients are let in. To store the nutrients that are being let in, the paramecium have food vacuoles that store the nutrients for energy. Along with food vacuoles are contractile vacuoles, that maintain a paramecium’s water intake and how much they can store in the vacuole. According to Science Explorer, “Paramecium have a structure called a food vacuole that stores only nutrients and provides energy for the cell.” The food vacuole stores nutrients to keep the cell going with energy. Also, the paramecium contains a small and large nucleus, which are two different nuclei in the paramecium. The large nucleus(macronucleus) controls everyday activities of a paramecium, and the small nucleus (micronucleus) controls when the paramecium reproduce. The two nuclei work together to help the cell reproduce and do everyday activities of a cell. The paramecium can use their certain parts to be able to clean the water they’re living in.

This diagram shows the different structures of a paramecium, that help the cell do it's job. (http://labs.7bscience.com/uploads/4/7/3/3/473362/5803163.png?317) = = =What do paramecium do?=

Paramecium are able to clean their freshwater environment with the structures that are designed to do this job. Paramecium’s job is to clean any parts of the water that could be harmful to the water. Paramecium are designed with their food vacuoles to store the bacteria that they eat, which makes the water more clean. An example of this is if there is a bacteria or algae filled space, they eat the harmful material by using their oral groove, and the water then becomes more clean. “Paramecium eat materials, and are able to control the amount of algae and bacteria to keep the water clean.” ( https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/4444A2AE-B15A-4080-B6EE-38606CF65F6C?hasLocalHost=false ). Paramecium eat the harming materials in the water, so there is enough clean water to keep the whole body of water protected. The paramecium are usually in all pond water, but not salt water, which means pond water is more protected. Also, paramecium can digest this bacteria, because it is beneficial for their energy. To stay energized while cleaning, eating the bacteria gives the paramecium lots of energy. The paramecium cleans the water, and is very beneficial for bodies of water. =How do ponds/bodies of water benefit from paramecium?=

Paramecium are like an engine, they keep the whole body of water running while cleaning it, so it is more efficient to keep the water clean. The paramecium is able to keep the water protected from any harmful bacteria and algae. Therefore, the water is more clean when the paramecium clean it. This allows more living things in the water to be able to survive better and longer. For example, when the paramecium cleans the water, it is more safe and clean for other living things to swim in. However, some animals are able to survive without paramecium. Also, when paramecium clean the water, new water plants are able to grow because the paramecium eat decaying plants bacteria. “It is less likely to have many diseases in the water when it is clean.” (From Bacteria to Plants) When paramecium clean the water, the water has less diseases caused by bacteria and algae that could not only harm the plants and living things, but the water as well. When the paramecium clean the water, it helps many parts of the water and the living things that are trying to survive in the water. Without paramecium, the water would be less clean and not as protected as it is with it.

=Conclusion=

Some effects of paramecium do not benefit us, but they do benefit other living things in the water that could be harmed without paramecium. Living things are protected from any diseases, and could protect the water from the harmful materials that live and swim in the water that many living things rely highly on. Paramecium keep other living things alive and feed other living things, so they are an important part to a body of freshwater, that is, until their small predator comes along and eats them. =References=

Works Cited Hendrickson, Kirstin. “Paramecium Cell Functions.” Livestrong, 29 July 2015, www.livestrong.com/article/188072-paramecium-cell-functions/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2017. Lipscomb, Diana L. “Paramecium.” World Book Student. World Book, 2017. Web. 30 Jan. 2017 “Movement of Paramecium.” YouTube, 16 Mar. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUxeyl5cdso. Accessed 2 Feb. 2017. Ower, Pete. “Labeled Diagram of Paramecium.” 7b Science Labs, labs.7bscience.com/uploads/4/7/3/3/473362/5803163.png?317. Accessed 2 Feb. 2017. Padilla, Michael J. Prentice Hall Science Explorer. Teacher’s ed., Needham, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. Paramecia. Produced by Peter Matulavich Productions, 2001. Discovery Education Science, app.discoveryeducation.com/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2017. “Paramecium.” 101science, 101science.com/paramecium.htm. Accessed 25 Jan. 2017. “Paramecium.” Weebly, lifeofparamecium.weebly.com/lifestyle--adaptations.html. Accessed 24 Jan. 2017.

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