Harmful Algal Blooms
Detailed Description
You may notice a green, red or brown film on your favorite boating or swimming area in the summer. This coloring could mean that the water is affected by harmful algal blooms. Harmful algal blooms are an accumulation of tiny organisms known as algae and can release harmful toxins into the environment. Pictured is Gloeotrichia echinulata, at higher magnification showing colony filaments under epifluorescence microscopy and stained with Sytox Green (a DNA stain that is excluded from live cells). This bloom comes from the Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon.
Sources/Usage
Public Domain.