Specimen #9 Chlamydomonas Algae Sample

Figure 1: Over view of Chlamydomonas. Green
in color and individual cells not joined
together

Figure 2: Closer look at cells. Able to see the
individual cells and how they are
unicellular

Name: Chlamydomonas
Common Name: Green Algae 
Family: Chlamydomonadaceae
Collected Date:10/22/16
Habitat:Found in the plankton of nutrient-rich lakes and ponds. Can be abundant in sewage ponds at any time of year. Some occur in low-nutrient habitats, soil and even snow.
Location: Hiram College Field Station
Description: Flagella emerge from the cell apex above a clear area in the cell.Flagella may be lost in older cells.  Chloroplasts occur singly and are cup-shaped around the inside of the cell perimeter, but may be deeply divided, incised, or lobed to appear as more than one, and may contain pyrenoids and/or an eyespot. Under some conditions, cells never possess flagella, becoming mucilaginous colonies of stationary cells.  These can still usually be identified because the clear area at the cell apex is still present, where the pulsing vacuoles may still be visible.
Key Used:
Keying Steps:
1. Algae is unicellular- not joined to neighboring cells
2. Cells with rigid cell wall, lacking shallow groove, motile, propelled by one or more waving hair-like structures
3. Ovoid spherical green chloroplasts. Two equal length flagella emerging symmetrically from cell. Cytoplasmic threads are absent 


Key Links Used:
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/algae/identification-guide/identify/guide/unicellular/cell-with-rigid-cell-wall-and-motile/chlamydomonas