Gonium
Gonium spp. · Phytoplankton
Under the microscope · Photo: crseaquist / CC BY
How to identify Gonium
- Under the microscope: flat, square plate of 4, 8 or 16 green cells, each with two flagella
- Plate tumbles end over end as it swims
- In the water: not visible
Similar species
Pandorina and Eudorina form round balls instead of flat plates; Crucigenia plates do not swim.
Profile
| Season | Spring through fall. |
|---|---|
| Starts | About 50 F and up |
| Light | Full sun |
| Depth | Upper water column |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Colony division |
| Habitat | Ponds, lagoons, stock ponds and wetlands. |
Why it matters in a lake
A harmless swimming green of nutrient rich water.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chlorophyta |
| Class | Chlorophyceae |
| Order | Chlamydomonadales |
| Family | Goniaceae |
| Scientific name | Gonium spp. |
Chlamydomonas
Scenedesmus
Ankistrodesmus
Oocystis
Pediastrum
Desmodesmus
Monoraphidium
Chlorella
Sphaerocystis
CosmariumNeed a hand?
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