Chlamydocapsa ampla

(Kützing) Fott, 1972

Most likely ID: n.a.

 

Synonym: Gloeocystis ampla, Sphaerellocystis ampla

 

Sampling location: Simmelried, Pond of the convent Hegne

 

Phylogenetic tree: Chlamydocapsa ampla

 

Diagnosis: 

  • colonies roundish or grape-shaped, 50–1500 µm
  • 2–4–8 cells each in a spherical gelatinous sheath
  • gelatinous sheath limited by distinct membrane in young cells, otherwise amorphous
  • cells ovoid or oval, length 5–14 µm
  • one chloroplast, multiple lobed
  • one pyrenoid, localized in one of the lobes
  • contractile vacuole in the narrowed cell end
  • one eyespot (hard to see)
  • vegetative cells can form flagella
Chlamydocapsa-ampla
Chlamydocapsa ampla

I find Chlamydocapsa ampla regularly but rarely in two of my sampling sites. Mostly I find the colonies growing on the surface of the mud layer.

 

The main characteristics of Chlamydocapsa ampla are the mostly ovoid shaped cells, which are located in a gelatinous sphere with a distinct, sharply defined membrane. There are 2–8 cells in each of these gelatinous spheres. These spherical colonies are often connected to form larger, irregularly shaped aggregates, which then appear grape-shaped (s. fig. 1 a-b).

 

Chlamydocapsa ampla belongs to the tetrasporal algae, which have a contractile vacuole and an eyespot. In addition, the vegetative cells can form a pair of flagella, although this is rarely observed. The contractile vacuole is located in the tapered end of the cell, which is often transparent (s. figs 2 and 4). The eyespot is adhering to the cell wall, is very small and can only be seen at high magnification (s. figs. 2 and 4).

Chlamydocapsa-ampla

Fig. 1 a-b: Chlamydocapsa ampla. L = 8–12 µm (cells). Two focal planes of a colony with a diameter of 200 µm. Obj. 40 X.

Chlamydocapsa-ampla

Fig. 2: Chlamydocapsa ampla. L = 8–12 µm (cells). A detail of the colony as shown in fig. 1 a-b. Note the contractile vacuoles (CV) and eyespots (ES) in the cells. Nu = nucleus, PY = pyrenoid. Obj. 100 X.

Chlamydocapsa-ampla

Fig. 3: Chlamydocapsa ampla. D = 20–24 µm (of colonies). An aggregation of young, spherical colonies with each 2 or 4 cells. Obj. 40 X.

Chlamydocapsa-ampla

Fig. 4: Chlamydocapsa ampla. L = 7–13 µm (of cells). Some colonies as shown in fig. 3 in detail. The cells are ovoid. The contracile vacuole (CV) in located in the tapered end of the cells. ES = eyespot, SM = spherical membrane. Obj. 100 X.

Chlamydocapsa-ampla

Fig. 5: Chlamydocapsa ampla. D = 62 µm (of colony). A young, spherical colony. Obj. 100 X.