Diplonemids belong to the most diverse and abundant marine protists, which places them among the key players of the oceanic ecosystem. Under in vitro conditions, their best-known representative Diplonema papillatum accumulates in its cytoplasm a crystalline polymer. When grown under the nutrient-poor conditions, but not nutrient-rich conditions, D. papillatum synthesizes a β-1,3-glucan polymer, also known as paramylon. This phenomenon is unexpected, as it is in striking contrast to the accumulation of paramylon in euglenids, since these related flagellates synthesize this polymer solely under nutrient-rich conditions. The capacity of D. papillatum to store an energy source in the form of polysaccharides when the environment is poor in nutrients is unexpected and may contribute to the wide distribution of these protists in the ocean.

双线虫属于最多样化和最丰富的海洋原生生物，这使它们成为海洋生态系统的关键参与者。在体外条件下，它们最著名的代表乳头双线虫在其细胞质中积累结晶聚合物。当在营养贫乏的条件下生长，而不是在营养丰富的条件下生长时，D. papillatum会合成一种 β-1,3-葡聚糖聚合物，也称为裸藻淀粉。这种现象是出乎意料的，因为它与眼虫中裸藻淀粉的积累形成鲜明对比，因为这些相关的鞭毛虫仅在营养丰富的条件下合成这种聚合物。当环境营养不良时，乳头D. papillatum以多糖形式储存能量的能力是出乎意料的，这可能有助于这些原生生物在海洋中的广泛分布。