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How to interpret the results
Indicator taxa
Good quality ponds and lakes
Scroll to
Cyanobacteria
Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
Golden-brown algae
Green algae
Red algae
Water net
Yellow-green algae
Cyanobacteria
Chroococcus
(Chroococcaceae)
Cells lack organelles
Factsheet
Tolypothrix
(Microchaetaceae)
Filament contains heterocytes
Factsheet
Gloeotrichia
(Rivulariaceae)
Filament contains heterocytes
Factsheet
Rivularia
(Rivulariaceae)
Filament contains heterocytes
Factsheet
Aphanothece
(Synechococcaceae)
Cells small, irregularly dispersed in homogenous jelly
Factsheet
Diatoms
Achnanthes cf inflata
(Achnanthaceae)
Chloroplasts visible inside cells are brown
Factsheet
Nitzschia
(Bacillariaceae)
Rotational symmetry of cell face outline 180 degrees, with the ends being opposite reflections of each other
Factsheet
Cymbella
(Cymbellaceae)
Rotational symmetry of cell face outline is 360 degrees; one end is a reflection of the other
Factsheet
Eunotia
and relatives (Eunotiaceae)
Rotational symmetry of cell face outline is 360 degrees; one end is a reflection of the other
Factsheet
Ulnaria
(Fragilariaceae)
Raphe absent
Factsheet
Fragilaria
(Fragilariaceae)
Chloroplasts visible inside cells are brown
Factsheet
Diatoma
(Fragilariaceae)
Chloroplasts visible inside cells are brown
Factsheet
Naviculoid diatoms (Naviculaceae)
Central raphe
Factsheet
Pinnularia
(Pinnulariaceae)
Central raphe
Factsheet
Tabellaria flocculosa
(Tabellariaceae)
Chloroplasts visible inside cells are brown
Factsheet
Dinoflagellates
Ceratium
(Ceratiidae)
Cell wall ornamented with spines
Factsheet
Gymnodinium
(Gymnodiniidae)
Shallow groove encircles the cell equator
Factsheet
Peridinium
(Peridiniidae)
Cell wall ornamented with spines
Factsheet
Golden-brown algae
Dinobryon
(Dinobryaceae)
Cell contents (chloroplasts) are brown or golden-brown
Factsheet
Synura
(Synuraceae)
Cell contents (chloroplasts) are brown or golden-brown
Factsheet
Green algae
Chara
(Characeae)
Structured as a main axis with whorls of branches at nodes
Factsheet
Chodatella
(Oocystaceae)
Cell wall ornamented with spines
Factsheet
Cladophora glomerata
(Cladophoraceae)
Filaments are one cell wide
Factsheet
Closterium
(Closteriaceae)
Cell outline crescent-shaped
Factsheet
Cosmarium
(Desmidiaceae)
Cell outline has a deep constriction
Factsheet
Diacanthos
(Oocystaceae)
Cell wall ornamented with spines
Factsheet
Haematococcus
(Chlamydomonadaceae)
Cell with rigid cell wall and motile
Factsheet
Dimorphococcus
(Dictyosphaeraceae)
Cells connected by branching threads
Factsheet
Hyalotheca
(Desmidiaceae)
Cells have constrictions between them
Factsheet
Kirchneriella
(Oocystaceae)
Cell outline crescent-shaped
Factsheet
Mougeotia
(Zygnemataceae)
Cell wall is smooth and featureless
Factsheet
Nitella
(Characeae)
Structured as a main axis with whorls of branches at nodes
Factsheet
Coccomyxa/Pseudococcomyxa
(Oocystaceae)
Cells containing membrane-bound organelles
Factsheet
Oedogonium
(Oedogoniaceae)
Chloroplasts visible inside cells are green or yellow-green
Factsheet
Quadrigula
(Oocystaceae)
Cells long and thin, with tapering ends
Factsheet
Pleurotaenium
(Desmidiaceae)
Cell outline has a deep constriction
Factsheet
Selenastrum
(Oocystaceae)
Cell outline crescent-shaped
Factsheet
Spirogyra
(Zygnemataceae)
Cell wall is smooth and featureless
Factsheet
Staurastrum
(Desmidiaceae)
Cell outline has a deep constriction
Factsheet
Staurodesmus
(Desmidiaceae)
Cell outline has a deep constriction
Factsheet
Volvox
(Volvocaceae)
Cells embedded in a mass of spherical jelly
Factsheet
Zygnema
(Zygnemataceae)
Cell wall is smooth and featureless
Factsheet
Red algae
Audouinella hermanii
(Acrochaetiaceae)
Filaments are one cell wide
Factsheet
Water net
Hydrodictyon
(Hydrodictyaceae)
Branch points roughly equal
Factsheet
Yellow-green algae
Tribonema
(Tribonemataceae)
Cell walls composed of overlapping pieces
Factsheet