A traveling blue-green alga

A traveling blue-green alga The sample was observed immediately after being collected from a paddy field.

A blue-green alga, which is composed of connected cells, looks like　blue-green colored beads. It proceeds slowly across the field of view. It moves smoothly among other microorganisms.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
This blue-green alga belongs to genus Anabaena, probably Anabaena variabilis.

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

Genus Anabaena is classified to the species level according to the size and shape of the trichome (a filamentous body), and the shape and position of the akinete (dormant cell). Unfortunately the akinete cannot be seen in this video, so we can’t be completely sure the organism is Anabaena variabilis.

Sampling Date : 15 June 2006

Sampling Site : KASHIMADAI paddy field  Google Map