During the summertime, algal bloom is a problem in Sweden as well as in many other countries. The most common algae, often called Blue-Green algae, are not really algae, but belong to another group of organisms, namely Cyanobacteria. This summer we had an explosion of cyanobacteria and other algae blooming just close to where I live in Stockholm. In July and August, I collected water samples from the blooms and discovered there were both cyanobacteria and green algae to be found.
The first species is a colonial cyanobacterium called Gloeotrichia. It is relatively large and colonies can easily be seen as small dots on the surface of the water. During the night, they seem to sink and are no longer floating, but the reappear as soon as the sun starts to rise. I have tried to keep these alive in a water sample in my garage, but they are very difficult to culture and keep alive. I have tried various temperatures and lighting conditions, but all attempts have failed so far.
The second set of images are a microscopic colony of the green algae called "Botryococcus braunii”. It measures about 140 micrometers across. Colonies are held together by a lipid (oily) biofilm and you can see old droplets around the edge of the colony. Typically around 30–40% of the dry weight of a colony is oil. Blooms of Botryococcus braunii have been shown to be toxic to other micro-organisms and fish but they may have other applications than being a source of food. Botryococcus braunii has great potential for algaculture because of the hydrocarbons it produces, which can be chemically converted into fuels. Botryococcus oils can be used as feedstock for hydrocracking in an oil refinery to produce octane (gasoline), kerosene, and diesel.
The third species I found in large amounts are another cyanobacteria, Aphanizomenon. Here photographed in darkfield illumination.
Gloeotrichia in darkfield illumination. Olympus UplanSAPO 4X objective. Focus stacked:
Cyanobacteria - Gloeotrichia by Håkan Kvarnström, on Flickr
I call this one "Dancing ballerinas". Gloeotrichia in fluorescent illumination (ultraviolet). Olympus UplanXAPO 10X objective. Focus stacked:
Cyanobacteria - Gloeotrichia by Håkan Kvarnström, on Flickr
Gloeotrichia in fluorescent illumination (ultraviolet). Olympus UplanXAPO 10X objective. Focus stacked:
Cyanobacteria - Gloeotrichia by Håkan Kvarnström, on Flickr
Gloeotrichia in fluorescent illumination (ultraviolet). Olympus UplanXAPO 40X objective. Single shoot:
Cyanobacteria - Gloeotrichia by Håkan Kvarnström, on Flickr
Gloeotrichia in fluorescent illumination (ultraviolet). Olympus UplanXAPO 40X objective. Single shoot:
algalblooCyanobacteria - Gloeotrichiam-4 by Håkan Kvarnström, on Flickr
Botryococcus braunii in DIC. Close to crossed polarizers. Olympus UplanXAPO 60X Oil objective. Focus stacked:
Green alga - Botryococcus braunii by Håkan Kvarnström, on Flickr
Botryococcus braunii in DIC. Relaxed polarizers with DIC slider slightly pulled out. Olympus UplanXAPO 60X Oil objective. Focus stacked:
Botryococcus Braunii by Håkan Kvarnström, on Flickr
Aphanizomenon in darkfield illumination. Olympus UplanXAPO 20X objective. Focus stacked:
Cyanobacteria - Aphanizomenon by Håkan Kvarnström, on Flickr
Algal bloom under the microscope
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Algal bloom under the microscope
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Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Spectacular!
Mike
Mike
Michael Reese Much FRMS EMS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Absolutely fantastic images Hakan!
Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Wonderful images. Thank you for sharing!
Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Thank you all!
https://www.instagram.com/micromundusphotography
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Olympus BX51 | Olympus CX23 | Olympus SZ4045 | Zeiss EVO LS 10
https://www.flickr.com/photos/micromundus
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0UdYN ... YH_litDZjA
Olympus BX51 | Olympus CX23 | Olympus SZ4045 | Zeiss EVO LS 10
Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Amazing images! Absolutely stunning!
Dave
Dave
Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
These are very interesting pictures Hakan, the darkfield and fluorescent are my favorites. Thanks for sharing!
Regards
Walter
Regards
Walter
Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Thank you Dave and Walter! I agree, the fluorescence turned out great. Wonderful illumination technique.
https://www.instagram.com/micromundusphotography
https://www.flickr.com/photos/micromundus
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0UdYN ... YH_litDZjA
Olympus BX51 | Olympus CX23 | Olympus SZ4045 | Zeiss EVO LS 10
https://www.flickr.com/photos/micromundus
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0UdYN ... YH_litDZjA
Olympus BX51 | Olympus CX23 | Olympus SZ4045 | Zeiss EVO LS 10
Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Dear Hakan,
absolutely wonderful images, never seen in this quality before!!!
anne
absolutely wonderful images, never seen in this quality before!!!
anne
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Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Amazing and super photogenic subject!!!I envy your equipment . I hope people watching this could control GAS
Re: Algal bloom under the microscope
Thank you so much! Yes, I think algae in general has great potential to help solve the climate change crisis. One of the main advantages is that it does not compete with land crops, meaning space that is used for food production. If we could use our seas and lakes for this purpose, it would be a huge advantage and not in competition with food production.Luis Barrera Puigdollers wrote: ↑Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:25 amAmazing and super photogenic subject!!!I envy your equipment . I hope people watching this could control GAS
https://www.instagram.com/micromundusphotography
https://www.flickr.com/photos/micromundus
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0UdYN ... YH_litDZjA
Olympus BX51 | Olympus CX23 | Olympus SZ4045 | Zeiss EVO LS 10
https://www.flickr.com/photos/micromundus
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0UdYN ... YH_litDZjA
Olympus BX51 | Olympus CX23 | Olympus SZ4045 | Zeiss EVO LS 10