Encystment in Euglena is a protective mechanism adopted by the organism in response to unfavorable environmental conditions. When conditions become unfavorable, such as scarcity of nutrients or desiccation, Euglena can form a protective cyst or dormant stage to survive the harsh conditions.
- The encystment of Euglena takes place as a protective measure.
- It takes place to tide over unfavorable conditions such as lack of food, lack of oxygen, drought, excessive heat, etc.
- A cyst wall is secreted in the form of a thick, spherical, yellowish brown, and gelatinous covering, composed of a special carbohydrate.
- The thickness of the cyst wall may vary in different species.
- The encysted animal not only successfully withstands the adverse conditions of life, but also enjoys a far and wide dispersal.
- The animals become active and emerge from the cyst when the conditions become favorable.
- After emerging from the cyst, they resume their normal free-swimming life.
- The individuals may undergo a single or several divisions in the cyst and this stage is called the palmella stage.
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Read More:
- Reproduction of Euglena | Binary Fission, Multiple Fission & Encystment | Diagram
- Locomotion (Movement) and Nutrition of Euglena | Diagram
- Structure of Euglena with Labeled Diagram
- General Characters of All Phylum of The Invertebrates.
Md Ekarm Hossain Bhuiyan is a dedicated zoology graduate with a profound passion for the study of animal life. He completed his primary and secondary education at Ispahani Public School and College, renowned for its commitment to academic excellence. He then pursued his secondary education at Government Science College. After that he achieved graduation at Department of Zoology, Jagannath University. His educational background and enthusiasm for zoology position him to make meaningful contributions to the field of biological sciences in Bangladesh.