Duck Pond Algae Identification

Duck Pond Algae
Volvulina

Name: Volvulina
Common name:  "Little Roller"
Family: Coleochaetaceae

Collection Date: received in lab 

Habitat:Usually found in freshwater but can also be found in soil. Some or all are auxotrophic. 

Description: Spherical cells form colony. Individual cells have 2 flagella sticking out of them. Individual cells group differently in the matrix. 
Key used: A.R. Baker 2013, An Image Based Key: Algae

Keying Steps: 
1. Determined to be a part of the greens , Chlorophyceae.
2. Found to  be colonial. 
3. Determined to be Volvulina because this is the only group that demonstrated largely geometric clusters. 


Figure 1: Volvulina on 40x microscope. Notice the cells are colonial. What you cannot observe is that the center is actually filled with cells and does not have any open space. 


Figure 2: Volvulina under 40x microscope. Different, darker view. Cells are in a geometric shape.