Pandorina
Pandorina spp. · Phytoplankton
Under the microscope · Photo: James K. Douch / CC BY-SA
How to identify Pandorina
- Under the microscope: small oval colony of 8 or 16 green cells tightly packed together like a blackberry
- Each cell has two flagella, and the colony tumbles as it swims
- In the water: blooms make the water green
Similar species
Eudorina cells are spaced apart in jelly; Synura colonies are golden, not green.
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 and sexual spores |
| Habitat | Ponds, lagoons and nutrient rich lakes. |
Why it matters in a lake
A harmless swimming green common in nutrient rich ponds.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chlorophyta |
| Class | Chlorophyceae |
| Order | Chlamydomonadales |
| Family | Volvocaceae |
| Scientific name | Pandorina spp. |
Chlamydomonas
Scenedesmus
Ankistrodesmus
Oocystis
Pediastrum
Desmodesmus
Monoraphidium
Chlorella
Sphaerocystis
CosmariumNeed a hand?
Want to know what is in your water?
Lab counts of the algae in your lake show what is growing, how much and whether a bloom is coming.
Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596