Lyngbya Alage Mats

As a result of recent genetic analyses several new genera was erected from this genus.

Lyngbya alage mats. Lyngbya species form long unbranching filaments inside a rigid mucilaginous sheath. Much as pennies are stacked within a roll of coins. The algal mats were identified as lyngbya and spirulina. It ranges in color and usually appears green brown gray or black.

It is not an aquatic plant nor a true algae but actually a type of cyanobacteria and can be a pond owner s worst nightmare. Clumps are difficult to pull apart. An individual lyngbya filament is usually unbranched it is composed of large discoid cells that are stacked within a firm polysaccharide sheath. Its thick glycoprotein sheath adds an extra physical barrier that fortifies the cell wall.

Lyngbya is one group of cyanobacteria of special concern. Lyngbya is a problematic aquatic growth that is common to many ponds in north texas. Sheaths may form tangles or mats intermixed with other. They are more common during drought conditions and a significant rain event will likely dissipate the mats.

Black mat algae grows at the bottom of slow moving freshwaters. Healthy mats are usually blue black but turn yellow green under intense light. Lingbya can grow to be several inches thick covering large areas of the waters surface or bottom sediment. Long and hair like this filamentous alga can form large benthic and surface mats blooms.

Mats often float to the surfa. E g moorea limnoraphis okeania microseira and dapis. These mats produce gasses during photosynthesis that often cause the mats to rise to the surface. Lyngbya is a genus of cyanobacteria unicellular autotrophs that form the basis of the oceanic food chain.

These mats are usually tan greenish and sometimes black in color and can be mistakenly identified as dead floating algae. A survival specialist lyngbya uses several mechanisms to ensure it stays happy and healthy. Lyngbya is a large celled filamentous mat forming algae. If you re unlucky enough to have the giant variety known as lyngbya wollei these mats can quickly grow to several acres in size if left untreated.

On top of this layer is an established microbial community or microbiota that works mutualistically with the lyngbya the microbiota defends its host by helping to gather resources for growth or shielding it. When handled it feels like wet wool or cotton. Lyngbya wollei lyngbya is a large celled filamentous mat forming cyanobacterium blue green alga it occurs in fresh water and especially flourishes in florida s spring fed waters. This type of algae forms dense mats and has a strong musty smell.