Great Lakes Water Life Photo Gallery
Colonial Algae of the Great Lakes Region

This page includes the true colonial algae of the Great Lakes. Broken pieces of larger macrophytic and filamentous algae may appear to be colonies, but generally are not included here unless such fragments are very common in the plankton. Unicellular algae may be gregarious (found together in large numbers) but such forms are not included here unless the individuals are typically connected by processes or by a common mucilage. Unicellular algae may also masquerade as small colonies (<8 cells) when undergoing rapid growth - these are included here only if the cells typically are held together for an extended period (e.g., by a mucilage or in the mother cell walls).

By Form

By Taxa

Links

Chlamydocapsa sp.

Mucilaginous Colonies

Westella sp.

Irregular, non-mucilaginous colonies

Dinobryon divergens

Arbuscular (Branching) Colonies

Pediastrum simplex Courtesy of Ohio University

Regular (structured) colonies

Small colonies (<8 cells)

Great Lakes Colonial Algae Species List

Division Chlorophyta - Green Algae

Class Chlorophyceae
- Order Chaetophorales
  - Family Protococcaceae
    - Genus Protococcus
      - Protococcus viridis
- Order Chlorococcales
  - Family Botryococcaceae
    - Genus Botryococcus
      - Botryococcus braunii*
      - Botryococcus protuberans
      - Botryococcus sudeticus
  - Family Chlorococcaceae
    - Genus Chlorococcum
      - Chlorococcum humicola
  - Family Coelastraceae
    - Genus Coelastrum
      - Coelastrum astroideum#
      - Coelastrum cambricum*#
      - Coelastrum microporum*#H
      - Coelastrum morus#
      - Coelastrum proboscideum
      - Coelastrum reticulatum#H
      - Coelastrum scabrum H
      - Coelastrum speciosum
      - Coelastrum sphaericum
  - Family Hydrodictyaceae
    - Genus Euastropsis
      - Euastropsis richteri
    - Genus Hydrodictyon
      - Hydrodictyon reticulatum
    - Genus Pediastrum * De
      - Pediastrum araneosum
      - Pediastrum biradiatum
      - Pediastrum boryanum #H
      - Pediastrum braunii
      - Pediastrum duplex #H
      - Pediastrum glanduliferum
      - Pediastrum integrum H
      - Pediastrum kawraiskyi H
      - Pediastrum muticum
      - Pediastrum obtusum
      - Pediastrum sculptatum
      - Pediastrum simplex# De
      - Pediastrum tetras H
    - Genus Sorastrum
      - Sorastrum americanum
      - Sorastrum spinulosum
  - Family Oocystaceae
    - Genus Ankistrodesmus
      - Ankistrodesmus braunii*H
      - Ankistrodesmus convolutus H
      - Ankistrodesmus falcatus*#H
      - Ankistrodesmus fractus
      - Ankistrodesmus fusiformis *
      - Ankistrodesmus gelifactum *
      - Ankistrodesmus gracilis *#
      - Ankistrodesmus spiralis
      - Ankistrodesmus stipatatus *#
    - Genus Chlorella *#
      - Chlorella ellipsoidea
      - Chlorella vulgaris H
    - Genus Dictyosphaerium
      - Dictyosphaerium ehrenbergianum*#
      - Dictyosphaerium pulchellum*#
    - Genus Dimorphococcus
      - Dimorphococcus lunatus
    - Genus Diplochloris?
      - Diplochloris lunata*
    - Genus Echinocoleum?*
    - Genus Eremosphaera
      - Eremosphaera oocystoides
      - Eremosphaera viridis
    - Genus Franceia
      - Franceia droescheri*#H
      - Franceia ovalis*
    - Genus Gloedactinium?
      - Gloedactinium limneticum*
    - Genus Gloeotanium
      - Gloeotanium loitelsbergerianum
    - Genus Kirchneriella
      - Kirchneriella contorta*#
      - Kirchneriella elongata*
      - Kirchneriella lunaris
      - Kirchneriella obesa*
      - Kirchneriella subsolitaria
    - Genus Nephrocytium
      - Nephrocytium agardhianum*#
      - Nephrocytium ecdysiscepanum
      - Nephrocytium limneticum*#
      - Nephrocytium lunatum
      - Nephrocytium obesum
    - Genus Oocystis
      - Oocystis borgei*#H Do
      - Oocystis crassa*#
      - Oocystis elliptica*#
      - Oocystis eremosphaeria
      - Oocystis gigas
      - Oocystis gloeocystiformis H
      - Oocystis lacustris*#
      - Oocystis marsonii*
      - Oocystis natans
      - Oocystis nodulosa*#
      - Oocystis novae-semliae
      - Oocystis panduriformis
      - Oocystis parva*#H
      - Oocystis pusilla*#H
      - Oocystis pyriformis#
      - Oocystis solitaria*#
      - Oocystis submarina*#
    - Genus Planktosphaeria
      - Planktosphaeria gelatinosa H
    - Genus Quadrigula
      - Quadrigula chodati
      - Quadrigula closteriodes#
      - Quadrigula lacustris*#H
    - Genus Selanastrum (aka Selenastrum)#
      - Selanastrum bibraianum
      - Selanastrum gracile
      - Selanastrum minutum H
      - Selanastrum westii
    - Genus Westella
      - Westella botryoides
      - Westella linearis
  - Family Scenedesmaceae
    - Genus Actinastrum
      - Actinastrum gracilimum
      - Actinastrum hantzschii
    - Genus Crucigenia
      - Crucigenia apiculata
      - Crucigenia crucifera
      - Crucigenia fenestrata*
      - Crucigenia irregularis*
      - Crucigenia lauterbornii
      - Crucigenia quadrata*#H
      - Crucigenia rectangularis*#H
      - Crucigenia tetrapedia*
      - Crucigenia truncata
    - Genus Micractinium
      - Micractinium pusillum#H
      - Micractinium quadrisetum
    - Genus Scenedesmus
      - Scenedesmus abundans
      - Scenedesmus acuatus*
      - Scenedesmus acuminatus
      - Scenedesmus acutiformis H
      - Scenedesmus arcuatus*#H
      - Scenedesmus armatus*#H
      - Scenedesmus bernardii
      - Scenedesmus bicaudatus#
      - Scenedesmus bijuga*#H
      - Scenedesmus brasiliensis H
      - Scenedesmus brevispina#
      - Scenedesmus denticulatus#H
      - Scenedesmus dimorphus
      - Scenedesmus ecornis*#
      - Scenedesmus hystrix H
      - Scenedesmus incrassatulus
      - Scenedesmus longus H
      - Scenedesmus microspina#
      - Scenedesmus obliquus H
      - Scenedesmus opoliensis#H
      - Scenedesmus perforatus
      - Scenedesmus quadrata*
      - Scenedesmus quadricauda*#H
      - Scenedesmus securiformis*
      - Scenedesmus serratus H
      - Scenedesmus spinosus#
    - Genus Tetradesmus
      - Tetradesmus smithii
      - Tetradesmus wisconsinense
    - Genus Tetrallantos
      - Tetrallantos lagerheimii
    - Genus Tetrastrum
      - Tetrastrum glabrum*
      - Tetrastrum heteracanthum*
      - Tetrastrum punctatum
      - Tetrastrum staurogeniaeforme
- Order Tetrasporales
  - Family Coccomyxaceae
    - Genus Dispora
      - Dispora crucigenoides*
    - Genus Elakatothrix
      - Elakatothrix gelatinosa*#
      - Elakatothrix genevensis*#
      - Elakatothrix lacustris*
      - Elakatothrix viridis*
  - Family Hypnomonadaceae
  - Family Palmellaceae
    - Genera Asterococcus
      - Asterococcus limneticus
      - Asterococcus spinosus
      - Asterococcus superbus
    - Genus Chlamydocapsa
    - Chlamydocapsa planktonica*#
    - Genus Gloeocystis
      - Gloeocystis ampla
      - Gloeocystis gigas*H
      - Gloeocystis major#
      - Gloeocystis planctonica*#
      - Gloeocystis vesiculosa
    - Genus Palmella
      - Palmella mucosa
    - Genus Palmodictyon
      - Palmodictyon varium
      - Palmodictyon viride
    - Genus Sphaerocystis
      - Sphaerocystis schroeteri*#H
  - Family Tetrasporaceae
    - Genus Apiocystis
      - Apiocystis brauniana
    - Genus Schizochlamys
      - Schizochlamys compacta
      - Schizochlamys gelatinosa
    - Genus Tetraspora
      - Tetraspora cylindrica
      - Tetraspora gelatinosa
      - Tetraspora lacustris*
      - Tetraspora lemmermannii*
      - Tetraspora lamellosa
      - Tetraspora lubrica
- Order Ulotrichales
  - Suborder Schizomeridineae
    - Family Schizomeridaceae
      - Genus Schizomeris
        
        Schizomeris leibleinii
- Order Volvocales
  - Family Haematococcaceae
    - Genus Haematococcus
      - Haematococcus lacustris
    - Genus Stephanosphaera
      - Stephanosphaera pluvialis
  - Family Spondylomoraceae
    - Spondylomorum
      - Spondylomorum quaternarium
  - Family Volvocaceae
    - Genus Eudorina
      - Eudorina elegans#
    - Genus Gonium *
      - Gonium formosum
      - Gonium pectorale
      - Gonium sociale
    - Genus Pandorina
      - Pandorina morum
    - Genus Platydorina
    - Genus Pleodorina
      - Pleodorina californica
      - Pleodorina illinoisensis
    - Genus Volvox
      - Volvox aureus
      - Volvox globator
      - Volvox tertius
- Order Zygnematales
  - Desmids - Orders Desmidaceae, Gonatozygonaceae, Mesotaeniaceae
    - Genus Cosmocladium

Division Chrysophyta

Class Xanthophyceae

Order Heterocapsales

Family Mischococcaceae

Genus Mischococcus

Mischococcus confervicola

Order Heterococcales

Family Botryochloridaceae

Genus Chloroellidiopsis

Chloroellidiopsis separabilis

Family Chlorotheciaceae

Genus Ophiocytium

Ophiocytium arbuscula
Ophiocytium bicuspidatum
Ophiocytium capitatum
Ophiocytium cochleare
Ophiocytium desertum
Ophiocytium elongatum
Ophiocytium gracilipes
Ophiocytium majus
Ophiocytium mucronatum
Ophiocytium parvulum

Family Gloeobotrydaceae

Genus Chlorobotrys

Chlorobotrys regularis

Genus Gloeobotrys

Gloeobotrys limneticus

Class Chrysophyceae

Order Chrysocapsales

Family Chrysocapsaceae

Genus Chrysocapsa

Chrysocapsa planctonica

Order Chrysomonadales

Suborder Chromulineae

Family Mallomonadaceae

Genus Chrysosphaerella Dm

Chrysosphaerella longispina*# Dh
Chrysosphaerella rodlei*

Suborder Isochrysidineae

Family Synuraceae

Genus Synura #

Synura adamsii
Synura uvella

Suborder Ochromonadineae

Family Ochromonadaceae

Genus Dinobryon

Dinobryon acuminatum*#
Dinobryon bavaricum*#H DsDh
Dinobryon borgei*#
Dinobryon calciformis
Dinobryon crenulatum*#
Dinobryon cylindricum*#H
Dinobryon divergens*#H DsDmDo
Dinobryon evenulatum*
Dinobryon sertularia*H
Dinobryon sociale*#H Ds
Dinobryon stokesii*
Dinobryon tabellariae
Dinobryon tubaeformae*
Dinobryon utriculus*
Dinobryon vanhoeffenii

Genus Epipyxis*#
Genus Hyalobryon*

Hyalobryon mucicola

Genus Uroglena*
Genus Uroglenopsis

Uroglenopsis americana

Order Chrysosphaerales

Family Chrysostomataceae

Genus Chrysostrella

Chrysostrella paradoxa

Order Monosigales
- Family Salpingoecaceae
  - Genus Salpingoeca
    - Salpingoeca amphorae*
    - Salpingoeca gracilis*#
Order Rhizochrysidales

Family Rhizochrysidaceae

Genus Chrysarachnion
- Chrysarachnion insidians#
Genus Chrysidiastrum

Chrysidiastrum catenatum

Genus Chrysostephanosphaera

Chrysostephanosphaera globulifer

Order Stichogleales

Class Bacillariophyceae - Diatoms (See - Checklist of Great Lakes Diatoms) - The list below highlights only those species found in the supplemental references. Be sure to click the above link if you want the full list! All species listed below are also included in the linked checklist except: Cyclotella tecta, Cyclotella unipunctata, Gomphonema simus, Nitzschia pilum Thalassiosira baltica and Synedra socia.

Genus Asterionella
- Asterionella formosa*#H
Genus Diatoma
- Diatoma ehrenbergii E
- Diatoma hiemale #H
- Diatoma tenue *#H
  - Diatoma tenue var. elongatum (aka Diatoma elongatum)*H
- Diatoma vulgare#H
Genus Eunotia #
Genus Fragilaria
- Fragilaria capucina*#H
- Fragilaria crotonensis *#H DsDmDhDeDo
- Fragilaria intermedia *#H
- Fragilaria radians (aka Synedra radians) *#
- Fragilaria vaucheriae*#H
Genus Fragilariforma
- Fragilariforma virescens (aka Fragilaria virescens) *#H
Genus Meridion
- Meridion anceps (aka Diatoma anceps)H
- Meridion circulare *
Genus Pseudostaurosira
- Pseudostaurosira brevistriata (aka Fragilaria brevistriata)*
Genus Synedra
- Synedra acus *#
- Synedra amphicephala *
- Synedra cyclopum *#
- Synedra delicatissima *#
- Synedra filiformis *#
- Synedra minuscula *
- Synedra ostenfeldii *#
- Synedra parasitica *
- Synedra socia#
- Synedra tenera #
- Synedra ulna *#H
Genus Tabellaria
- Tabellaria fenestrata *H Dh
- Tabellaria flocculosa *#H Dh

Division Pyrrhophyta

Class Dinophyceae
- Order Dinococcales
  - Family Dinococcaceae
    - Genus Raciborskia
      - Raciborskia bicornis

Division Cyanophyta

Class Myxophyceae
- Order Chamaesiphonales
  - Family Chamaesiphonaceae
    - Genus Chamaesiphon
      - Chamaesiphon confervicola
      - Chamaesiphon curvatus
      - Chamaesiphon incrustans
- Order Chroococcales
  - Family Chroococcaceae
    - Genus Anacystis
    - Genus Aphanocapsa
      - Aphanocapsa delicatissima H Dm
      - Aphanocapsa elachista*H
      - Aphanocapsa endophytica
      - Aphanocapsa grevillei
      - Aphanocapsa pulchra
      - Aphanocapsa rivularis
    - Genus Aphanothece H
      - Aphanothece castagnei (aka Anacystis marginata)
      - Aphanothece clathrata
      - Aphanothece gelatinosa*#
      - Aphanothece microscopica*
      - Aphanothece microspora
      - Aphanothece nidulans*
      - Aphanothece pallida (aka Gloeothece rupestris, Anacystis rupestris)
      - Aphanothece prasina (aka Anacystis rupestris v. prasina)
      - Aphanothece saxicola
      - Aphanothece stagnina (aka Anacystis rupestris)
    - Genus Chroococcus
      - Chroococcus dispersus*#
      - Chroococcus giganteus
      - Chroococcus limneticus*#H
      - Chroococcus minimus H
      - Chroococcus minor
      - Chroococcus minutus H
      - Chroococcus pallidus
      - Chroococcus prescottii
      - Chroococcus turgidus
      - Chroococcus varius
    - Genus Coccochloris
      - Coccochloris elabans*
    - Genus Coelosphaerium
      - Coelosphaerium dubium*#
      - Coelosphaerium kuetzingianum H
      - Coelosphaerium naegelianum*#H
      - Coelosphaerium pallidum
    - Genus Dactylococcopsis H
      - Dactylococcopsis acicularis
      - Dactylococcopsis fascicularis
      - Dactylococcopsis smithii*
      - Dactylococcopsis rhaphidiodes
    - Genus Glaucocystis
      - Glaucocystis duplex
      - Glaucocystis oocystiformis
      - Glaucocystis nostochinearum
    - Genus Gloeocapsa
      - Gloeocapsa aeruginosa
      - Gloeocapsa calcarea
      - Gloeocapsa punctata
      - Gloeocapsa rupestris
    - Genus Gloeochaete
      - Gloeochaete wittrockiana
    - Genus Gloeothece H
      - Gloeothece fusco-lutea
      - Gloeothece linearis
      - Gloeothece rupestris*#
    - Genus Gomphosphaeria
      - Gomphosphaeria aponina*#
      - Gomphosphaeria lacustris H
    - Genus Holopedium
      - Holopedium irregulare
    - Genus Marssoniella
      - Marssoniella elegans
    - Genus Merismopedia
      - Merismopedia chondroidea
      - Merismopedia convoluta
      - Merismopedia elegans
      - Merismopedia glauca H
      - Merismopedia punctata
      - Merismopedia tenuissima H
      - Merismopedia trolleri
    - Genus Microcystis De
      - Microcystis aeruginosa (aka Microcystis flos-aquae, Microcystis ichthyoblabe) H
      - Microcystis incerta (aka Microcystis pulverea) H
    - Genus Rhabdoderma
      - Rhabdoderma gorskii*
      - Rhabdoderma irregulare
      - Rhabdoderma lineare
      - Rhabdoderma sigmoidea
- Order Hormogonales
  - Suborder Heterocystineae
Class Chlorobacteriaceae

Division Rhodophyta

Class Rhodophyceae
- Subclass Bangioideae
  - Order Bangiales
    - Family Porphyridaceae
      - Genus Porphyridium
        
        Porphyridium cruentum

Based on: G.W. Prescott. 1962. Algae of the Western Great Lakes Area. Wm. C. Brown Co., Inc.

Diatom List from - Stoermer, E. F., Kreis, R. G. Jr. and Andresen, N. A. 1999 Checklist of diatoms from the Laurentian Great lakes. II. J. Great Lakes Res. 25:515-566.

*Plankton in Lake Michigan 1983 - 1992 . EPA/GLNPO. Epilimnetic Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Biomass and Species Composition in Lake Michigan, 1983 to 1992. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Theodore Lewis and Paul Bertram. October 1994. [Reports Stylotheca aurea - Other references to this species of Chrysophyte cannot be found so this species is not included in the above list]

#Plankton in Lake Ontario 1986 - 1992. EPA/GLNPO. Epilimnetic Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Biomass and Species Composition in Lake Ontario, 1986 to 1992. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Theodore Lewis1 and Paul Bertram. July 1995.

E Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species List.

Ds Dm Dh De Do - Dominant algae species of each Lake - Per Results From The Great Lakes National Program Office’s Biological Open Water Surveillance Program Of The Laurentian Great Lakes for 1998. EPA.

H Brown and Manny. 1983. Nearshore Plankton of Hammond Bay, Lake Huron. JGLR 9(4)523-529.

Additional taxonomic placements based on: Prescott. 1970. how to know the Freshwater Algae. Wm. C. Brown Co. [Ankyra, Chlorogonium, Lobomonas, Phacotus, Pyramidomonas, Sphaerellocystis, Bitrichia, Chromulina, Chrysarachnion, Chrysochromulina, Chrysococcus, Epipyxis, Kephyrion, Monosiga, Ochromonas, Pseudokephyrion, Salpingoeca, Stichogloea, Uroglena, Chilomonas, Rhodomonas, Amphidinium, Enteromorpha, Nitellopsis]

Additional taxonomic placements based on: Protist Information Server. [Chlamydocapsa, Monoraphidium, Planktonema, Selenastrum, Sphaerellopsis]

Additional taxonomic placements based on: European Register of Marine Species [Hymenomonas]

Additional taxonomic placements based on: Systema Naturae 2000 [Paraphysomonas, Spiniferomonas]

Additional taxonomic placements based on: VCR LTER Biodiversity Database [Coccochloris]

?Additional Taxonomy, uncertain.[Chodatellopsis, Diplochloris, Echinocoleum, Gloedactinium, Chrysolykos, Isthmochloron, Sphacelariales]

Algae Links

Algal Image Laboratory - Bowling Green State University
Great Lakes Diatom Home Page - University of Michigan
The Wall - Michigan Tech
University Paisley Biodiversity Reference
Phytopia

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Great Lakes Water Life Photo Gallery Colonial Algae of the Great Lakes Region

Great Lakes Colonial Algae Species List

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Great Lakes Water Life Photo Gallery
Colonial Algae of the Great Lakes Region