Paramecium busaria under the microscope

Paramecium busaria is a single cell protozoan that lives in symbiosis with an algae called Chlorella. The algae can be seen inside the paramecium, they are little green cells that move around the paramecium.Paramecium busaria provides shelter for the Chlorella while the algae provides food and oxygen for the Paramecium by photosynthesis. If the Paramecium are placed in a dark place, the Chlorella algae will begin to die off. Paramecium can feed off smaller protist to stay alive without the algae inside of them.

Paramecium are found in lakes, rivers, ponds and many other freshwater environments.

Approximate magnification is shown in the bottom right hand corner.