Uroglena
Uroglena spp. · Phytoplankton
Under the microscope · Photo: CC0
Also called Chrysophyte
How to identify Uroglena
- Under the microscope: large ball shaped colonies of hundreds of small golden cells around the edge of a jelly sphere
- Each cell has two unequal flagella and the colony rolls slowly
- In the water: blooms cause strong fishy or cod liver oil odors
Similar species
Synura colonies are smaller with scaly cells; Dinobryon cells sit in vase shaped cases.
Profile
| Season | Spring and early summer. |
|---|---|
| Starts | About 45 to 60 F |
| Light | Moderate light |
| Depth | Upper water column |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Colony splitting and cysts |
| Habitat | Lakes and reservoirs, often clear, cool and low in nutrients. |
Why it matters in a lake
Not toxic, but known for fishy taste and odor episodes in drinking water lakes. Reported from Fremont Lake in western Wyoming.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Occasional
- Oregon: Occasional
- Wyoming: Occasional
Classification
| Kingdom | Chromista |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Ochrophyta |
| Class | Chrysophyceae |
| Order | Ochromonadales |
| Family | Ochromonadaceae |
| Scientific name | Uroglena spp. |
Dinobryon
Mallomonas
Synura
MicrocystisNeed 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