This microscopic image was captured on October 9th, 2024, but the sample was collected on September 18th, 2024, by Tarleton student Maria Gonzalez. The photo shows filaments of Spirogyra with its characteristic spiral chloroplasts.
Location:
Collected from a Slow-moving section of River near Comanche, TX, proctor spillway side: 31 ° 58’05.6” N 98 ° 29’05.1” W. Water temperature was approximately [insert temperature], and pH was [insert pH level].
Organism ID:
Genus: Spirogyra
Family: Zygnemataceae
Identified based on filamentous structure, visible chloroplasts, and reproductive conjugation tubes.
Description:
Spirogyra is a genus of filamentous green algae found in freshwater environments. Its cells are cylindrical, forming unbranched chains. A distinguishing feature is the spiral arrangement of chloroplasts inside the cells. Spirogyra reproduces sexually through conjugation and asexually through fragmentation.
Ecology:
Spirogyra plays a key role in aquatic ecosystems as a primary producer, contributing to oxygen production through photosynthesis. It is often found in slow-moving waters with moderate to high nutrient levels. Blooms can impact water quality by causing oxygen depletion during decomposition.
References:
“Name Derivation:” Phycokey - Spirogyra, cfb.unh.edu/phycokey/Choices/Charophyceae/conjugate_non_desmids/SPIROGYRA/Spirogyra_key.html. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.e.)
Planktonic, Yelko Waterhole, Mitchell River
DIC x400 magnification (preserved specimen)
Magnification of all photos: 1000× (oil immersion)
Habitat: water and silt from edge of a large freshwater pond.
Using stage micrometer for calibration, coenobium estimated to be about 25 µm wide.
Video: https://youtu.be/FpE6MUZhqXg
Photos are snapshots of the same colony featured in the video
Colony size: 67 µm in diameter
Site of sample collection: Pavilion, North Pond, Katsurashima Ryokuchi (a freshwater habitat), Sendai, Japan
Date of sample collection: September 21st, 2024
Weather: Rainy
Water temp.: 22.3°C
pH 6.6
Date of observation: September 21st, 2024
Bright-field observation using a Wraymer microscope (model BX-3500TL, Osaka, Japan) equipped with a Floyd-2 HDMI ethernet digital camera (Wraymer, Osaka, Japan). The accuracy of the scale bar was confirmed by using a stage micrometer glass slide (1 div. = 10 µm; Wraymer, Osaka, Japan) at each magnification.
Magnification of all photos: 1000× (oil immersion)
Habitat: fine particulate matter attached to rocks in a stagnant part of the River des Peres.
Using stage micrometer for calibration, colony estimated to be about 33 µm wide.
Magnification of all photos: 1000× (oil immersion)
Habitat: planktonic algae from murky water in an artificial pond.
Many individuals present in sample (ten pictured). Using stage micrometer for calibration, loricae estimated to be 38-45 µm from tip to tip, and 19-25 µm wide.
Magnification of all photos: 1000× (oil immersion)
Habitat: planktonic algae from murky water in an artificial pond.
Many individuals present in sample (five pictured). Using stage micrometer for calibration, loricae estimated to be about 28 to 30 µm from tip to tip.
Magnification of all photos: 400×
Habitat: planktonic algae from a small fishpond.
Using stage micrometer for calibration, estimated to be about 70 µm wide.
Video: https://youtu.be/jgH-QUn5WYc
Photos are snapshots of the same individual featured in the video. Two flagella are indicated by red and blue arrows in photo no. 2.
Cell size: 59 µm x 31 µm
Site of sample collection: Pavilion, North Pond, Katsurashima Ryokuchi (a freshwater habitat), Sendai, Japan
Date of sample collection: September 21st, 2024
Weather: Rainy
Water temp.: 22.3°C
pH 6.6
Date of observation: September 21st, 2024
Bright-field observation using a Wraymer microscope (model BX-3500TL, Osaka, Japan) equipped with a Floyd-2 HDMI ethernet digital camera (Wraymer, Osaka, Japan). The accuracy of the scale bar was confirmed by using a stage micrometer glass slide (1 div. = 10 µm; Wraymer, Osaka, Japan) at each magnification.
Not stained, it looked like this naturally and was still alive and swimming.
Growing on moss in cold stream.
From sample taken September 23, 2024.
Magnification of all photos: 1000× (oil immersion)
Habitat: water and debris from a shallow pond with various aquatic plants (Potamogeton, Ceratophyllum).
Using stage micrometer for calibration, estimated to be about 11 µm long and 6 µm wide.
Planktonic, Cooloolabin Dam
DIC x400 magnification
Synura sphagnicola (Korshikov) Korshikov, 1929
Collected by Zach Muscavitch, in Bigelow Hollow Lake. Near or on submerged vegetation and adjacent to Rivularia colonies.
Benthic/metaphytic, Welsby Lagoon, North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)
DIC x400 magnification
Benthic, Christmas Creek at Stinson Park
DIC x400 magnification
Sherwood Arboretom, small pond. Possibly Lepocinclis hispidula
DIC x400 magnification
Planktonic, Oxley Common Lake
DIC x400 magnification
Metaphytic, Amity Swamp, North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)
DIC x400 magnification
Planktonic, Fitzroy River at Eden Bann Weir
DIC x400 magnification (preserved specimen)