Many diatoms after division reduce the size of their frustule (MacDonald-Pfitzer rule). What about thecate dinoflagellates (for example, Ceratium species)? How does their size change after division?
Dear Anton:
Diatoms reduce sizes of the frustules because during the binary fission the new valves are formed whithin de diatom cell. In the case of the Ceratium the kind of binary fission is oblique, each new cell forms the missing part after fission without the limit of the parental cell. Thus I think that the new cells are not reduced.
Kind regards. Eugenia
Assuming there is no decrease in available nutrients or altered physical environment, there should be no change in size of the dinos. Practically this is not the case, especially during blooms with reduced nutrient, carbon, and light availability-the size can increase because of cyst formation, or get smaller because of the reduced analyte,
Paul, you mean that the size of the dinos after division is determined only by physical conditions and there is no any apparent law of sizes change?
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