Taxonomy
- Order
- Chroococcales
- Family
- Aphanothecaceae
- Genus
- Aphanothece
Examples of Aphanothece
400X total magnification; 10 μm scale bar.
400X total magnification; 10 μm scale bar.
400X total magnification; 10 μm scale bar.
Morphology
Microscopic to macroscopic colonies–capable of reaching up to several centimeters in diameter–roughly spherical or amorphous in shape, and grayish, greenish, blue-green, or brownish. Cells are irregularly arranged, sparsely or densely, within colonial mucilage. Colonial mucilage clearly delimited or diffluent; colorless or yellowish to yellow-brown near margins; may be lamellated (layered) near margins. Cells–especially near colony margin–may have their own individual envelopes. Cells widely oval or rod-shaped; straight or slightly arcuate (bent); pale to bright blue-green, green, or greyish blue-green in color. Some planktonic species possess aerotopes. Cell size varies among species, from less than 1 μm long to 12 μm long.
Ecology
In North America, numerous species have been found in soils, the benthos of waterbodies, on wet rocks, and in hot springs. Other species are found in tropical to subtropical swamps, and in brackish environments.
References
- Johansen, J. R., & Komárek, J. (2015). Coccoid Cyanobacteria. In J. D. Wehr, R. G. Sheath, & J. P. Kociolek (Eds.), Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2nd ed., pp. 103-105). Waltham, MA: Elsevier.
- Komárek, J. & Anagnostidis, K. (2008). Cyanoprokaryota-1. Teil/Part 1: Chroococcales. In H. Ettl, G. Gärtner, H. Heynig, & D. Mollenhauer (Eds.), Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa (Vol. 19/1, pp. 71-74). Heidelberg, Germany: Spektrum.