Macromonas mobilis
(Lauterborn, 1915) Utermöhl & Koppe, 1923
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n.a.
Sampling location: Simmelried
Phylogenetic tree: Macromonas mobilis
Diagnosis:
- length 12 -30 µm, width 8 – 14 µm
- oval to oblong, sometimes slightly curved
- 1-4 large sulphur globules and many tiny globules
- one polar flagellum
- fast swimming, flagellum pushed the cell
I found this large sulphur bacterium in the main pond of Simmelried in February 2005 and January 2009. The main pond is normally not accessible. However, in winter 2005 and 2009 the pond and the surrounding mud zone were frozen. So I could access the ice cover and take samples through a hole. In these samples I found Macromonas mobilis. In the other ponds of Simmelried I could not find this sulphur bacterium, although they also have a thick mud layer at the bottom.
Fig. 1: Macromonas mobilis. Overview of a mass development. Note the polar flagellum of the specimens. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 2: Macromonas mobilis. L = 20 µm. A freely swimming specimen. The cell contains three large sulphur globules. Obj. 100 X.