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Nostoc (noss-tock) a filamentous blue green alga, with heterocysts - the more hyaline yellowy cells. In Nostoc these are spherical and are a site for enhanced nitrogen fixation. This genus often found within mucus sheaths. Differential interference contrast.
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Nostoc (noss-tock) a filamentous blue green alga, in which the filaments are enclosed within a mucus sheath to form balls which range from a hundred microns or so up to many millimeters in size. At least at times these organisms make up the greatest biomass in the water column. Phase contrast.
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These ball shaped colonies measure up to about 1 millemetre in size. The bacteria secrete a gelatinous material that binds the cells together. Bright field optics.
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Ball shaped colony of Nostoc, with diatoms and other algae incorporated within it. Dark ground illumination.
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Detail of margin of a large (half millimetre) gelatinous colony. Filaments with occasional heterocysts. Differential interference microscopy.
