What does paramecium do?

Paramecium is generally long and cylindrical, with a blunt and round front end and a slightly sharp back end, which looks like inverted straw sandals, hence the name. Paramecium is covered with longitudinal cilia, and the structures of cilia and flagella are basically the same. The surface of the worm is a surface membrane, which consists of three layers of membranes, playing a buffering and protective role, and the cytoplasm inside is divided into endoplasm and ectoplasm.

Each cilia emanates from a matrix under the omentum, and the whole matrix under the omentum is connected by small fibers vertically and horizontally, which plays a role in coordinating cilia activities. There is a row of small rod-shaped vesicles in the ectoplasm under the epidermis, which are arranged perpendicular to the epidermis and called spinous vesicles, and open to the epidermis. When insects are stimulated, the echinochloa will shoot out the contents and form filaments when they meet with water.

Paramecium has rapid stress. When stimulated by 5% methylene blue, dilute acetic acid or ink, the barbed wire can be released. It is generally believed that stinging bubbles have defensive and predatory functions.

Living environment of paramecium:

Living in ponds rich in organic matter, slow-moving gullies, rivers and ditches near residential areas. Paramecium giganteum is one of the largest protozoans, with a body length of about 180 ~ 300 microns. When we observe the liquid containing a lot of paramecium with naked eyes, we can see many bright white spots floating like needles, which are paramecium.

Paramecium giganteum is full of cytoplasm. When it moves forward in the water, it constantly swings the cilia in the mouth groove, so that the water vortex expands and absorbs bacteria or other organic substances in the water. Food enters the cytoplasm through the mouth and pharynx, forming food vacuoles. Food vacuole moves in the body with the flow of cytoplasm, the food in the vesicle is gradually digested and absorbed, and the food residue is discharged from the anus at the back of the body.

Paramecium breathes through the surface membrane, absorbs dissolved oxygen in water, decomposes organic matter and releases energy, and the generated carbon dioxide and some nitrogen-containing wastes are excreted through the surface membrane. Most paramecium are full dynamic nutrition.

But paramecium is an exception, it contains symbiotic green algae. This kind of green algae can use the nitrogen-containing waste excreted by animals as the source of inorganic salts and survive by making organic matter through plant photosynthesis (belonging to plant nutrition, paramecium can survive in anoxic or anaerobic environment and has strong anti-pollution ability).