Abstract

There is an immense diversity in algae species, they can be found in different

types of water such a rivers and lakes, there are other types of organisms that
possess characteristics of algae. In this report two species of cyanobacteria will be
morphologically compared with three different magnifications in a microscope.

Introduction
Algae are very simple chlorophyll-containing organisms (Bold and Wynne, 1985)
composed of one cell or grouped together in colonies or as organisms with many
cells, sometimes collaborating together as simple tissues (Hillison, 1977). The
most commonly occurring groups of freshwater algae are diatoms, green algae,
and blue-green algae, which are more correctly known as cyanobacteria.
Cyanobacteria refer to a group of microorganisms that possess characteristics of
algae (chlorophyll-a and oxygenic photosynthesis). They are found in fresh,
estuarine, and marine waters in the U.S. Cyanobacteria are often confused with
filamentous green algae, because both can produce dense mats that can impede
activities like swimming and fishing, and may cause odor problems and oxygen
depletion (Danglada, 2015).
Scytonema is a filamentous form showing a characteristic false branching. It
occurs in damp places. In shallow waters, loose-lying aegagropilous forms occur.
Some are saxicolous form i.e., they grow on the exposed hard rocky surface.
Filaments of Scytonema may produce compact felt like mucous growth, in regions
of high humidity, on the rocks and trunk of trees. Their filaments have no distinction
into base or apex distinctly and the trichomes are more or less of uniform
thickness. The trichomes show characteristic false branching and the heterocysts
are intercalary. The thricome is enclosed in a thick mucilaginous sheath which is
usually stratified. False branching commences with the trichome breaking at a
certain point. A trichome may break due to degenerate so that the trichome will be
broken (Sambamurty, 2005).
Lyngbya is named after a Danish phycologyst (H.C. Lyngbye), it resembles a
Oscillatoria in structure except that in the former the trichomes have a firm obvious
hyaline sheath whereas in the later the individual sheaths of the trichomes are
absent. Lybya occurs in freshwater, marine water as well as on soil. Each trichome
is septate and made up of hundreds of cells (Sharma, 1986).

Methodology
Two different samples of algae were used in a microscope; the magnifications 2.5x,
10x and 40x were used to compare both species.

Results
Magnification
s

Scytonema

Lyngbya

Description
In both of the
species
the
filaments looked
entangle
and
intensely coiled
and crossed.
There was a
reduction
of
filaments
and
the clarity was
significant in the
Lyngbya
sample.
Both have barrel
cells shaped to
cylindrical, very
short
in
hormogonia

2.5x

10x

40x

Conclusion
Algae are found everywhere on earth: in the sea, rivers and lakes, on soil and
walls, in animal and plants (as symbionts-partners collaborating together); in fact
just about everywhere where there is a light to carry out photosynthesis.

Bold, H.C., Wynne, M.J., 1985. Introduction to the algae structure and
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133.
Hillison, C.I., 1977. Seaweeds, a color-coded, illustrated guide to common
marine 1977. Plants of east coast of the United States, Keystone Books. The
Pennsylvania State University Press, pp. 15.
Sambamurty, A., 2005. A Textbook of Algae. India, I.K. International Pvt. Ltd.
p 283
Danglada, L., 2015. Cyanobacteria/Cyanotoxins. United States
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy data/cyanobacteriacyanotoxins
Sharma, O., 1986. Textbook of algae, nineteenth ed, Tata McGrwahill
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