the flagellate stage of the alga Halosphaera viridis

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 1:36 pm

Finally (after 3 years of looking the marine plankton) I found the flagellate stage of the marine alga Halosphaera viridis (Prasinophyceae). I was really happy about it.
This alga has two stages: the flagellate stage and the physoma stage. I published the physoma stage 3 years ago in this forum:
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... 91ed1bb967

Objective 40x, DIC, Mediterranean Plankton

Franz

GabrielDuong · Post by **GabrielDuong** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 1:57 pm

This is beautiful. :"(

René · Post by **René** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 3:32 am

Wow Franz, great find. I have never seen swarmers like these, they seem to be in developmental stage, 'pinching off' (also shown by Schmitz:

Nevertheless, the phycoma seems very small compared with the swarmers and the neighbouring diatoms (Pseudo-nitzschia). Could it be Halosphaera minor?

Best wishes, René

arturoag75 · Post by **arturoag75** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 4:23 am

Very nice subject...

carlos.uruguay · Post by **carlos.uruguay** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:52 pm

Great image and explanation

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:27 pm

Once again you have found a new and fascinating subject to show us... thanks!

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 1:36 pm

thank you for the comments.

for Renè: I think you are right. Probably it is not H. viridis, but it is very difficult to say if it is H. minor, because in the literature there are different indications about the diameter of Halosphaera minor. I am still looking in my books and asking people... Meanwhile it is better to write simply Halosphaera sp. Thank you.

Franz