From Prey via Endosymbiont to Plastid: Comparative Studies in Dinoflagellates

Abstract

“The dinoflagellates are, in biological respect, perhaps the most versatile and most fascinating class of flagellates. Some of them are absolutely animal-like, others completely plant-like, i.e., alga-like, and there are transitions and mixed nutritional strategies. The Dinophyceae would presumably give examples to all questions which are treated in this book, provided the knowledge of them would be better.” (Pringsheim 1963). Knowledge of dinoflagellates has increased considerably in the last years. They now seem to be extremely useful model organisms for investigating symbiogenesis and the origin of plastids.