Algal
Master List
Phylum Chlorophyta - The
Greens
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Cladophora - multicellular
algae that are coenocytic, filamentous
Family Cladophoraceae
Cladophora sp. - multicellular,
branched, filamentous green found in freshwater and marine habitats
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Chlorococcales
Family Hydrodictaceae - organized
colonial cells
Hydrodictyon sp. - known
as water net, cells are elongated and coenocytic (multinucleate cells without
cross-walls)
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Chlorococcales
Family Hydrodictaceae - organized
colonial cells
Pediastrum sp. - cells
are arranged radially, outer cells form spine-like extensions of the colony,
cell is coenocytic.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Chlorococcales
Family Scenedesmaceae - colonial
cells in groups of 2 to 4, may bear spines
Scenedesmus sp. - forms
a coenobium (a colony that always
has the same number of cells once it's formed), four cells to a coenobium
(can vary), reproduction by autospores.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Volvocales - have flagellated
cells and colonies with glycoprotein cell walls
Family Volvocaceae - colonial,
flagellated cells
Volvox sp. - colony
of algal cells, usually 500 or more, cells are biflagellated with the colony
moving (swimming) as a unit. The spaces between the cell is filled
with water and mucilage. The large cells inside are daughter colonies
formed by cell divisions (asexual reproduction). Eventually colony
ruptures releasing the daughter colonies.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Volvocales
Family
Volvocaceae
Eudorina sp. - colonial
cells in a mucilage, with a tiered arrangements, cells in a colony range
from 16 to 64, cells in the colony are the same size (compare to
Volvox),
sexual reproduction is anisogamous.
Note image below has been stained red. Click
here for another image
Picture Source: Botany 331 Home Page:Dr. Sam Rushforth
/ Dr.Jack Donaldson
Brigham Young University
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Volvocales
Family
Volvocaceae
Pandorina sp. - Click
here for another image colonial cells, in groups of 4; up to
32 cells per colony, reproduction by cell division (asexual reproduction)
in which an entire new colony is formed or by isogamy
(sexual reproduction).
NOTE ORGANISIM IS STAINED RED.
Picture Source: Botany 331 Home Page:Dr. Sam
Rushforth / Dr.Jack Donaldson
Brigham Young University
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Volvocales
Family
Chlamydomonadaceae
Chlamydomonas sp. - a
single celled, biflagellate algae; note thin glycoprotein wall surrounding
the cell, other algae have cellulose walls; has one large cup-shaped chloroplast;
the two flagella are in a V shape and are located in the notch seen in
this picture; has a pyrenoid (protein region inside chloroplasts that accumulates
carbohydrates) and an eyespot. Typically
reproduction is via cell division (asexual
reproduction)
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal
Home Page; Dr. Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Zygnematales (Conjugales)
Family Desmidiaceae
Cosmarium sp. - a
desmid, has a sharp constriction in the middle which creates semi-cells,
nucleus in the center, look for pyrenoids (protein region inside chloroplasts
that accumulates carbohydrates), asexual reproduction by cell division,
sexual reproduction by conjugation.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal
Home Page; Dr. Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Zygnematales (Conjugales)
Family Desmidicaeae
Closterium sp. - a
desmid; has two semicells but no constriction in the middle, each semicell
has its own chloroplasts, cells are crescent to lance-shaped.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Zygnematales (Conjugales)
Family Desmidicaeae
Staurastrum sp. - a
desmid; cells are deeply constricted in the middle of the cell, cells are
triangular or flattened triangular (see below) in overall shape.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Zygnematales (Conjugales)
Family Zygnemataceae
Spirogyra sp. - a
filamentous algae that can sexually reproduce by conjugation,
tubes are formed between adjacent filaments allowing for movement of cells,
this gives Spirogyra a ladder-like appearance, chloroplasts are
in spirals, pyrenoids are along the protoplasts.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Zygnematales (Conjugales)
Family Zygnemataceae
Mougeotia sp.- filamentous
green, unbranched, distinguished because uses conjugation
to
exchange genetic material during when undergoing
sexual reproduction, chloroplasts are in a bands or plates and are able
to orient themselves toward the light.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Zygnematales (Conjugales)
Family Zygnemataceae
Zygnema sp. -
filamentous green, unbranched, distinguished because uses conjugation
to
exchange genetic material during when undergoing
sexual reproduction, uses rhizoids (root-like structures that DO NOT conduct
nutrients) for attachment to substrates, has stellate (star-shaped)
chloroplasts.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis |
Left filament showing stellate chloroplasts
Right filament showing two filaments
undergoing conjugation (sexual reproduction) |
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Chaetophorales
Family Chaetopharaceae
Stigeoclonium sp. - has
heterotrichy, but basal cells (that attach to the substrate) are not obviously
different, increases branched under low nutrien conditons, reproduction
by flagellated zoospores (4 flagella per zoospore)
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Chaetophorales
Family Coleochaetaceae
Coleochaete sp. -
filamentous algae with differentiation in growing patterns (heterotrichy),
grows on the surface of plants (an epiphyte), filaments often form a disc
click
here for picture, cells are irregularly branched, sexual reproduction
is oogamous.
Picture Source: Botany 331 Home Page:Dr. Sam Rushforth
/ Dr.Jack Donaldson
Brigham Young University
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Oedogoniales
Family Oedogoniaceae
Bulbochaete sp. - branched,
filamentous algae; each branch has hairs or setae; the setae are
distinctive becuase of its swollen base that narrows to a sharp tip (see
figure below); oogamous
reproduction via a nannadrous
condition (see Oedogonium)
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Oedogoniales
Family Oedogoniaceae
Oedogonium sp. - unbranched,
filamentous algae; branches may be anchored by a holdfast (anchoring) cell;
distinctive for its complex reproduction; in asexual reproduction
rings (called cell caps or thickenings see picture below) develop beneath
the vegetative cell prior to the cell breaking off. In sexual oogamous
reproduction, there the development of a thickened cell that becomes
the oogonium (macrandrous condition); additionally a small side appendage
may also develop next to the oogonium that is the male filament (nannandrous
condition). Small sproes are released by the male filaments that
are attracted to the oogonium.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Ulotrichales - unbranced,
filamentous algae
Family Microsporaceae
Microspora sp. - unbranched
filaments, cells have overlapping H-shaped wall pieces, make akinetes.
NO IMAGE AVAILABLE
Subphylum Chlorophyceae
Order Ulotrichales - unbranced,
filamentous algae
Family Ulotrichaceae
Ulothrix sp. - unbranched
filaments, chloroplasts are C-shaped, reproduces by vegetative
reproduction, zoospores, and
isogamy.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Phylum (Division) Euglenophyta;
Euglenoid
Order Euglenales
Family Euglenaceae
Euglena sp. -
a
single celled algae with one flagellum,
numerous small chloroplasts, and one to several paramylon
(carbohydrate) granules; look for red eyespot
which senses light sources and signals the flagella to move towards it.
Pellicle is not often visible.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal
Home Page; Dr. Morgan Vis
Order Euglenales
Family Euglenaceae
Phacus sp. - a
single celled algae with one flagellum,
numerous small chloroplasts, and several ring-shaped paramylon
(carbohydrate) granules; cells narrows sharply at the anterior end; compare
to Euglena.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Phylum (Division) Pyrrhophyta
- Dinoflagellates
Order Dinokontae
Family Peridiniaceae
Peridinium sp. - biflagellated
single cell, a dinokont (one flagella that
circles the middle of the cell and one that is in the anterior; have plates
underneath the cell wall known as a theca,
also have vesicles called trichocysts; these trichocysts can discharge
crystalline rods as a defense. Dinoflagellates can be associated
with water discoloration in estuaries and along the coasts. Although
some red tides give a beautiful luminescence to the waters, others release
deadly toxins which can kill fish and poison humans who eat shellfish from
these waters.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal
Home Page; Dr. Morgan Vis
Phylum Cyanophyta - The Blue
Greens
Order Chroococcales -solitary
cells, aggregations and colonies
Family Chroococcaceae
Gloeocapsa sp. - cells
are aggregated and covered by multi-layered mucilage, a palmelloid formation
(non-flagellated cells in a common mucilage)
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Order Chroococcales -solitary
cells, aggregations and colonies
Family Chroococcaceae
Microcystis sp. - spherical
shaped cells in a mucilaginoussheath,
can be hundreds of cells in one sheath, have gas vesicles for buoyancy
that make it often appear blackish blue, commonly associated with algal
blooms and fish kills, produce toxins affecting mammals, fish, and birds.
Microcystis sp. colony
Picture Source: Cyanosite Cyanobacterial Image
Gallery Freeware Purdue University |
Microcystis sp. bloom in freshwater lake
Picture Source: Cyanosite Cyanobacterial Image
Gallery Freeware Purdue University |
Order Oscillatoriales - filamentous
without heterocysts
Family Oscillatoriales
Lyngbya sp. - filamentous
blue-green, no heterocysts,
filaments in firm mucilage, the
mucilagenous sheath is longer than
the filament (see picture), reproduction is asexual and happens by the
filament into pieces with each piece becoming a new filament.
Order Oscillatoriales
- filamentous without heterocysts
Family Oscillatoriaceae
Phormidum sp. - no
heterocysts, trichomes has thin,
gummy sheath that often extends
past the trichome, symbiotic with sponges, also found in mats under
ice in Antarctic Lakes
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Order Oscillatoriales
- filamentous without heterocysts
Family Oscillatoriaceae
Oscillatoria sp. - filamentous
blue-green, no definate sheath (compare
to Lyngbya sp. ), do not have
akinetes
or heterocysts, produces new
cells on the ends of the filament, when a fileamnet brekas in half, two
new filaments grow (vegetative reproduction),
grows in mats (see figure on the right).
Picture Source: Cyanosite Cyanobacterial Image Gallery
Freeware Purdue University |
Picture Source: Cyanosite Cyanobacterial Image
Gallery Freeware Purdue University |
Order Oscillatoriales
- filamentous without heterocysts
Family Stigonemataceae
Stigonema (Fischerella)
sp. - no heterocysts, trichomes
have a thick, mucilagenous, sheath
(shown
in figure below), has true branching (see below). Compare to false
branching of Scytonema sp.
Picture Source: Botany 331 Home Page:Dr. Sam Rushforth
/ Dr.Jack Donaldson
Brigham Young University
Order Nostocales -
filaments
with heterocysts
Family Nostocaceae- unbranched
filaments
Anabaena sp. - note
string of beads formation. Should see some thickened cells in lab
called heterocysts. These heterocysts fix nitrogen.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Order Nostocales -
filaments
with heterocysts
Family Nostocaceae- unbranched
filaments
Nostoc sp. -
found in gelatinous lichens, fixes
nitrogen at the heterocysts, also may have
thickened cells in resting state know as akinetes,
frequently form large, mucilaginous balls (upper left picture), different
from Anabaena sp. because of thick
mucilage covering the filaments.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Order Nostocales
-
filaments with heterocysts
Family Nostocaceae (unbranched
filaments)
Cylindrospermum sp.
- heterocysts
and akinetes terminal and
at only one end, trichomes do
not taper and may form parallel lines, mucilage
is soft and not always visible.
Larger cells are akinetes, smaller end cells are heterocysts
Picture Source: Cyanosite Cyanobacterial Image Gallery
Freeware Purdue University
|
Terminal heterocysts present only
Picture Source: Cyanosite Cyanobacterial Image
Gallery Freeware Purdue University
|
Order Nostocales
-
filaments with heterocysts
Family Rivulariaceae
Calothrix sp.
- filamentous blue-green, heterocysts
(nitrogen
fixing cells) are on the ends (terminal), trichomes often taper at the
ends, may be an epiphyte.
Tapering Calothrix growing epiphytically on another organism
Picture Source: Cyanosite Cyanobacterial Image Gallery
Freeware Purdue University |
Picture Source: Cyanosite Cyanobacterial Image Gallery
Freeware Purdue University
|
Family Scytonemataceae (false
branching) filaments with heterocysts -
Scytonema sp. - also
found in gelatinous lichens, fixes
nitrogen at the intercalary heterocysts,
classic example of false branching, see
how trichomes meet and "appear" to branch without cells actually
being connected.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Phylum Chrysophyta - The Golden
Browns, Yellow-Greens, Diatoms
Subphylum Bacillariophyceae
(Diatomaceae)
Order Pennales
Family Fragilariaceae
Diatoma sp. -
bilaterally symmetric, shaped like a cigar or lanced shaped, has a pseudoraphe
(clear line down the middle where ornamentation is absent).
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization
Subphylum Bacillariophyceae
(Diatomaceae)
Order Pennales
Family Fragilariaceae
Synedra sp. -
a great deal of variation, bilaterally
symmetric diatom, has a pseudoraphe
(clear line down the middle where ornamentation is absent); often long
and needle-like, frustules long
and straight, may have capitate poles (enlarged portions at the ends of
the valve view).
Picture Source: Susquehanna University Algal Image Archive;
Matt Wargo
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University - Center
for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization
Subphylum Bacillariophyceae
(Diatomaceae)
Order Pennales - bilaterally
symmetric diatoms
Family Fragilariaceae
Fragilaria sp.
- bilaterally symmetric, lanced shaped, has a pseudoraphe
(clear line down the middle where ornamentation is absent), in girdle
view, has intercalary bands.
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization |
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization |
Subphylum Bacillariophyceae
(Diatomaceae)
Order Pennales - bilaterally
symmetric diatoms
Family Cymbellaceae
Cymbella sp. - bilaterally
symmetrical diatoms, may be found in long, linear colonies, surrounded
by mucilage that sometimes anchors Cymbella to the surface, has
a pronounced curve on one side, shaped like a cymbal.
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization |
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization |
Subphylum Bacillariophyceae
(Diatomaceae)
Order Pennales - bilaterally
symmetric diatoms
Family Naviculaceae
Navicula sp.- pennate
diatom, shape is called naviculoid (rounded poles), has a raphe,
in girdle view
is rectangular, valve
view is naviculoid.
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization
Subphylum Bacillariophyceae
(Diatomaceae)
Order Pennales - bilaterally
symmetric diatoms
Family Naviculaceae
Gyrosigma sp. - frustules
(cell walls) are s-shaped or sigmoid in valve
view, lance-shaped in girdle view,
middle of cell looks darker due to criss-crossing of striae.
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization |
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization |
Subphylum Bacillariophyceae
(Diatomaceae)
Order Centrales - radially
symmetric diatoms
Family Coscinodiscaceae
Melosira sp. - a
centric
diatom, arranged in filaments,
frustules
do not have intercalary bands,
cell walls punctate (having a thin spot in the walls), a primary component
of marine plankton.
Picture Source: Botany 331 Home Page:Dr. Sam Rushforth
/ Dr.Jack Donaldson Brigham Young University |
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal
Home Page; Dr. Morgan Vis |
Subphylum Xanthophyceae - Yellow-greens
Order Tribonematales
Family Xanthophyceae
Tribonema sp. - a
yellow green algae, food stored as chrysolaminarin, filamentous and unbranching,
distinctive becuase of H-shaped cell walls, when filamment breaks (a form
of asexual reproduction), cells break in the middle, chloroplasts are parietal
(along the cell wall) discs or folded plates.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Xanthophyceae - Yellow-greens
Order Vaucheriales
Family Vaucheriaceae- Vaucheria
sp. - coenocytic,
filamentous algae with irregular branching, sexual reproduction is oogamous.
Distinct oogonium and antheridia develop on some branches.
Vegetative (non-reproductive stage)
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis |
ANTHERIDIA (left) next to developing OOGONIUM (right)
Picture Source: Botany 331 Home Page:
Dr. Sam Rushforth / Dr.Jack Donaldson
Brigham Young University |
Subphylum Xanthophyceae - Yellow-greens
Order Mischococcales
Family Sciadaceae
Ophiocytium sp. - tube-shaped
cells that have thin, stalk-like appendages, may use these appendages to
attach to the substrate but may also be free-floating, may have balloon
shaped cells at the base.
Picture Source: Ohio University Algal Home Page; Dr.
Morgan Vis
Subphylum Chrysophyceae - Golden
Browns
Order Ochromonadaceae - colonies
of flagellated cells
Family Dinobryaceae -
Dinobryon sp. - a
colonial algae, cells are in a lorica
which are stacked on top of each other, has two unequal flagella.
Picture Source: Botany 331 Home Page:Dr. Sam Rushforth
/ Dr.Jack Donaldson
Brigham Young University
Subphylum Chrysophyceae - Golden
Browns
Order Ochromonadaceae - colonies
of flagellated cells
Family Synuraceae -
Synura sp. - each
cell has two flagella and two parietal
chloroplasts, cells form a spherical colony that is NOT in a mucilagenous
sheath
Picture Source: Bowling Green State University
Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization
Phylum Rhodophyta - The
Reds
Order Bangiales - unbranched
filamentous algae
Family Goniotrachaceae
Asterocystis sp. - a
false-branched, each cell is oblong to oval in shape, red algae; blue,
star-shaped chloroplasts, see Rhodophyta characteristics.
NO IMAGE AVAILABLE
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