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Microcystis (Cyanobacteria)

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical summer colony form, strung out with low-viscosity mucoid "glue", in contrast to compact spherical colonies found in other seasons.
Barbadoes Pond, Dover, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical summer colony form, strung out.
Barbadoes Pond, Dover, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical summer colony form, strung out.
Barbadoes Pond, Dover, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical summer colony form, strung out.
Barbadoes Pond, Dover, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical summer colony form, strung out.
Barbadoes Pond, Dover, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical summer colony form, strung out.
Barbadoes Pond, Dover, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Summer colonies

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical summer colony form, strung out.
Barbadoes Pond, Dover, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical summer colony form, strung out.
Barbadoes Pond, Dover, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Typical winter colony form, viscous extracellular mucilage.
Willand Pond, Dover, NH USA. Image by Amanda Murby, Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH USA

Microcystis aeruginosa, Wheelwright Pond, Lee, NH USA

Microcystis cf. wesenbergii, Wheelwright Pond, Lee, NH USA

Microcystis cf. smithii, 25 May 2010, Wheelwright Pond, Lee, NH USA. In this growth form the colony could be confused with Aphanocapsa, whose cells are generally smaller.

TEM of a single Microcystis cell with nearly 50% of the area dominated by hexagonally packed gas vesicles assuring buoyancy. Invaginations on left and right margins indicate partial cell division.

Photograph by H.S. Pankratz, Michigan State University, published by A. Walsby (1994).

Walsby, A.E. 1994. Gas Vesicles. Microbiological Reviews 58(1):94-144.

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