Rhizaria

Rhizaria is a diverse group of mostly unicellular eukaryotes that includes foraminifera, radiolarians, and cercozoans. Many form threadlike pseudopodia used in feeding or movement.

Foraminifera: Single-celled protists, usually with porous calcium carbonate shells and branching pseudopodia. They are a major rhizarian lineage known for elaborate shells and abundant fossils.
Phagocytosis: Cellular uptake of particles by enclosing them in a membrane-bound compartment. Many rhizarians use pseudopodia to capture prey and bring it into the cell.
SAR supergroup: A major eukaryotic grouping comprising Stramenopiles, Alveolata, and Rhizaria. Modern molecular classification places Rhizaria within this larger supergroup.
Paleoclimatology: The reconstruction of past climates from geological and biological evidence. Foraminiferal shells preserve chemical signals that can record ancient ocean conditions.
Biological carbon pump: The transfer of carbon from surface waters to the deep ocean through sinking organic matter and particles. Rhizarians can contribute carbon-bearing particles and influence how material sinks through the ocean.
Radiolaria: Marine protists with intricate mineral skeletons and radiating pseudopodia. They are another prominent rhizarian lineage, distinguished by siliceous skeletons.
Amoeboid movement: Cell movement produced by changing shape and extending temporary cellular projections. It describes how many amoeboid rhizarians move across surfaces or through sediment.
Eukaryotic phylogeny: The evolutionary relationships among organisms whose cells contain nuclei. Molecular phylogenies established Rhizaria as a related lineage among diverse protists.
Oxygen isotope ratio: The relative abundance of oxygen isotopes in a material, used to infer environmental conditions. Measurements in foraminiferal shells help estimate past ocean temperatures and ice volume.
Marine food web: The network of feeding relationships among organisms in marine ecosystems. Rhizarians consume microbes and become prey for larger organisms, linking several levels of ocean life.

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