Some have a special organelle called a bothrosome (or sagenogenetosome). It is usually found in a marine environments rich in algae and sea grass. It is capable of movement by use of this organelle.[citation needed]
They are generally decomposers. They are cultivated for their active production of Omega-3 fatty acids. These acids are used as an approved additive for animal feed.[citation needed]
There is a debate about whether some species of Sagenista contain the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll C.[citation needed]
Bothrosome
They are capable of excreting an extoplasmic net of filaments for cells to glide upon. These tiny filaments provide a network for cells to travel upon to soak up nutrients from the surrounding environment.[citation needed]
Examples
Labyrinthula: Possesses a bothrosome. It is being studied for its pathogenic nature in marine environments. It has caused wasting disease in eelgrass, Zostera marina.[6][7]
References
^Cavalier-Smith, T. (1995). Membrane heredity, symbiogenesis, and the multiple origins of algae. In: Arai, R., Kato, M., Doi, Y. (eds). Biodiversity and evolution. The National Science Museum Foundation. Tokyo, pp 75-114.
^Cavalier-Smith, T.; Scoble, J. M. (2013). "Phylogeny of Heterokonta: Incisomonas marina, a uniciliate gliding opalozoan related to Solenicola (Nanomonadea), and evidence that Actinophryida evolved from raphidophytes". European Journal of Protistology. 49 (3): 328–353. doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2012.09.002. PMID23219323.
^Muehlstein, Lisa K.; Porter, David; Short, Frederick T. (1 January 1991). "Labyrinthula zosterae sp. nov., the Causative Agent of Wasting Disease of Eelgrass, Zostera marina". Mycologia. 83 (2): 180–191. doi:10.2307/3759933. JSTOR3759933.
Gelenter, Wendy; Stowell, Larry J (2003). "Progress in understanding rapid blight of cool-season turf". PACE Turfgrass Research Institute Public Edition. 9: 1–4.
General Mycology. Dept. of Plant Biology, Washington State University.
Introduction to the Sagenista. Museum of Paleontology, UC-Berkeley.
Labyrinthulomycota. Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia.