For some time there's been spots of algae colonising one side of my critter tank. I scraped a sample to try and ID it and noticed this strangeness. I think this is a colony of Botryococcus braunii (please correct if I'm mistaken), but what I don't understand is what is going on it the cell at the centre, any ideas?
Edit: Identified as Coleochaete algae with zoospores.
Coleochaete algae with zoospores
Coleochaete algae with zoospores
Last edited by Chris Dee on Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Botryococcus braunii
I cannot help you ID those wiggling microorganisms, but the footage is beautiful to watch 
Daruosh.
Re: Botryococcus braunii
It does not (to my eyes) have the 'classic' look of Botryococcus braunii so I wouldn't have thought that is what it was. (As always happy to be corrected.)
The movement may well be zoospores: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoospore
The movement may well be zoospores: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoospore
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Re: Botryococcus braunii
Thanks for the zoospore suggestion 75RR, I had no idea they could move that fast until looking into it following your post. The sample is deformed but I agree it doesn't share the form of the example of Botryococcus braunii you posted. I need to get a better sample and study further, but it is looking like it may be Coleochaete after more searching: https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/reso ... oleochaete
Daruosha, glad you enjoyed it.
Daruosha, glad you enjoyed it.
Re: Coleochaete algae with zoospores
A better shot of the Coleochaete algae thallus that I'm finding in the tank.
- 2020-04-18 14-44-53 (B,Radius8,Smoothing4).jpg (155.48 KiB) Viewed 2003 times