Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Scenedesmus spp., flat colony of 4 alga cells. Scenedesmus, a green alga from the Chlorophyceae group,
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Scenedesmus spp., flat colony of 4 alga cells. Scenedesmus, a green alga from the Chlorophyceae group, is a small, non-motile, colonial green alga consisting of cells aligned in a flat plate. The colonies most often have two or four cells, but may have 8, 16, or 32 cells. The cells are usually cylindrical but may be more lunate (crescent-shaped), ovoid, or fusiform (wide in the middle and tapering at both ends). Often the end cells each have two long spines protruding from their outer corners (example: Scenedesmus quadricauda). Other cells may have additional spines or chitinous bristles. Each cell contains a single parietal, plate-like chloroplast with a pyrenoid (the site of CO2 fixation). The cell walls may be covered in bumps or reticulations. Scenedesmus is a photosynthetic planktonic organism that is important in the aquatic food chain. Magnification: x1,200 when shortest axis printed at 25
Size: 3483px × 2613px
Photo credit: © DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 251196h, alga, algae, algal, aquatic, bristle, bristles, chain, chitin, chitinous, chlorophyceae, chlorophyta, chlorophyte, colonial, colonies, colony, colored, coloured, daughter, electron, eukaryote, false-colored, false-coloured, flagellate, food, fresh, freshwater, green, hawaii, hawaiian, kaiwanui, marsh, micrograph, photosynthetic, phytoplankton, plankton, planktonic, scanning, scenedesmus, sem, water
