Easy Identification Of - Freshwater Algae

: Fresh blooms often smell like freshly mowed grass; older, decaying blooms may smell like rotting garbage.

Chara (skunkweed) grows from the bottom and often has a strong skunk or garlic-like smell. 2. Check the Color

: If you can pick up the algae with a stick and it hangs like hair, it is likely a filamentous green alga. If it is slimy and slips off immediately, it may be cyanobacteria . Easy identification of freshwater algae

For a more precise identification, you can use specialized tools:

: Sites like the NIWA Algae ID Guide and the Landcare Research Guide provide visual references for different habits. : Fresh blooms often smell like freshly mowed

: For student projects, a dichotomous key helps identify algae by asking a series of "yes or no" questions about its features. Algae Corner: How to Identify Different Algae Types

First, look at how the algae is structured in the water. Most common types fall into these three categories: Check the Color : If you can pick

Color provides a major clue about the pigments the algae uses for photosynthesis: