Algal List
Monday 11/1/99 and Wednesday 11/3/99

NOTE SPECIES ON THIS PAGE MAY DIFFER FROM THOSE IN LAB.  USE LAB SPECIMENS ONLY FOR DRAWINGS

Phylum (Division) Chlorophyta; Greens
Sub-phyllum 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



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



Sub-phyllum 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


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



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 (Division) Cyanophyta; Blue-greens
Order Nostocales
Family Nostocaceae
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


Family Scytonemataceae
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


STUDENT SAMPLES

Phylum (Division) Chrysophyta; Golden Algae
Order Centrales
Family Coscinodiscaceae
Stephanodiscus sp.

Picture Source: Bowling Green State University - Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization

Order Pennales
Family Fragilariaceae
Asterionella sp.

Picture Source: Bowling Green State University - Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization

Fragilaria sp.

Picture Source: Bowling Green State University - Center for Algal Microscopy and Image Digitization
 
 

Habitat Descriptions/List    Plant Lists    Plant Glossary
Announcements
Grasses/Sedges/RushesAlgal Glossary    Algal Lists

Back to Home Page