Blepharisma


Blepharisma
Description: Blepharisma
Image copyright: www.pirx.com
Blepharisma is a tiny microbe that is classified in the cilia group. Their size can range anywhere from 150µ to 300µ. When you see them up close they are very beautiful. They are like a pinkish silver color and sometimes they almost look like they are transparent. This is because when it is under light it becomes colorless. Off their body you can see little legs or hairs called cilias, these help them move. Usually the female Blepharisma is larger than the male Blepharisma. It is very interesting to watch Blepharisma partly because you can see them reproduce by splitting in half and forming another Blepharisma. Blepharisma are cannibalistic so when they don’t have food you see the bigger ones eating the smaller ones. When you see a large Blepharisma it is usually because of one of these things either they are coming close to splitting (reproducing) or they have been eating each other.

The Blepharisma has a full digestive tract. They feed on algae. Blepharisma filter feed, which means they eat and clean their food because of their digestive tract. Some blepharisma feed off of dog fur so it’s kind of like a micro-scopic flea.
Blepharisma move with tiny little cilia. Cilia helps a Blepharisma move. Even though blepharisma are small it takes thousands of cilia to
make blepharisma move.
Blepharisma don’t depend on their cilia to help them get around quickly. Sometimes they have to rely on the temperature. Depending on the temperature determines weather blepharisma move fast or slow. I will tell you its very rare that you see a blepharisma move faster than different bacteria. Blepharisma ONLY move fast when there water is at room temperature. Other wise they move slowly in the water and at the surface.
If you ever get a chance to look at a blepharisma make sure to check out how they move.

Blepharisma survive by having the right food, oxygen, temperature and light. Blepharisma prefer a 70-80 degree location. The Blepharisma eat bacteria found in decomposing vegetation by drawing them into its vortex of membranelles. They eat many different things including some such as I said. The Blepharisma can also live in pond water. They live good in the pond water just like they live in regular water.
The Blepharisma are also cannibals, they eat each other.
That is how Blepharisma survive.
Links:
   Bullet  threadworm
   Bullet  more on Blepharisma
   Bullet  Vinegar Eels
   Bullet  more on Blepharisma 2
   Bullet  volvox
   Bullet  salmonella
This page was edited by Nick Dan Hannah Kayla (Teacher: Alstadt) using Web Poster Wizard.