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anabaena

anabaena

 

 

 

Genus: Dolichospermum | Cyanobacteria

HAB

Species Dolichospermum flos-aquae
Formerly Anabaena flos-aquae

Order: Nostocales

Family: Nostocaceae

nodularia

Click on illustration to enlarge

Description: Colonies grow in filamentous clumps of multi-cell chains. Cells are cylindrical or barrel shaped. The end cells are often much longer than mid-chain cells, and may be hyaline (having a glass-like appearance). Dolichospermum, formerly Anabaena, is one of four cyanobacteria genera that can produce toxins.

Cell Size: 4-50um; varies with type of cell (vegetative smallest, akinetes largest)

Distribution: Common worldwide. 110 species have been described. Both benthic and planktonic species can be found in North America.

 
This Phytoplankton Identification page is affiliated with CeNCOOS and HABMAP, and is maintained by the Kudela Lab at the University of California Santa Cruz. Details about site history, funding, and sources of information and images can be found here.