I recall seeing, a couple of years ago, an enormously complicated life cycle of, well, I think it was a protist-style "animal". Loads of resting stages, morphs and sexual/asexual stages - and multiple tentative connections among most of these. It covered two full pages of a text book.
I would like to use this life cycle as an amusing example in teaching. Problem is, I can’t seem to recall where I saw it.
I realize that this vague description is so unspecific that you won’t be able to single out the organism. Instead, my question is: which organism has the most complicated life cycle? Or even: which is the messiest life cycle you have ever seen in print?
An interesting question. :D I am not an expert in the field, but I think some parasites - those that change a few different types of hosts - have quite complicated and interesting life cycles. With a lot of life form transformations etc. Can't guarantee two pages of drawings though. XD
Here is a link that may be of help. :)
https://www.google.ru/search?sclient=psy-ab&newwindow=1&biw=1331&bih=944&q=most%20complicated%20life%20cycle&oq&gs_l&pbx=1&ion=1&pf=p&pdl=300&cad=cbv&sei=jXFTVaOrF6STyQO82oCwCg&rct=j
Dicrocoelium dendriticum is also a nice example as it must take up residence in sheep, snails and then ants in order to complete its life-cycle! Madonna is a good alternative.
Best
DMF
In the insect, for instant the well known grape-pest, the Phyloxera lifecycle is one of the most complicated. Please, check the lifecycle here (look for the drawing), Phyloxera is the second species:
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/grapeipm/insects_attacking_grape_foliage.htm
Maybe the answer is apicomplexans? Check out this attached review and judge for yourself :).
I think Trematodes with four o five hosts have the most complex life cycle of all.
I would say: the researcher. Most complex life cycles being "finding a job after graduation".
Hehe. Joke appart, parasites have very complex life cycle due to their need for intermediary hosts. The example of Apicomplexan for malaria is the most well known and the most complex I can think of. Lifecycles of Trematodes, and insects are complex as well as proposed above, sorry for not proposing more.
May be it could be Phiesteria (a dinoflagellate often called the cell from Hell, although its toxicity was highly exaggerated). It has been described with many cell types and modes of life. Some rust fungi have extremely comlicated life cycle with five spore types and two hosts. Some Trematoda belonging to liver flukes can have three hosts, snail, ant, and sheep.
I would suggest use rust species as an example, easily to fill two pages with some beautiful pictures.
Rotifers have a pretty complex life cycle too with parthenogenesis and sexual stages and with resting and immediate eggs.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biology