: Sites like the NIWA Algae ID Guide and the Landcare Research Guide provide visual references for different habits.
If you are observing algae in person, these simple characteristics can narrow it down:
: Fresh blooms often smell like freshly mowed grass; older, decaying blooms may smell like rotting garbage. Easy identification of freshwater algae
Chara (skunkweed) grows from the bottom and often has a strong skunk or garlic-like smell. 2. Check the Color
: These look like hair-like strands or tangled mats. Spirogyra often feels slick and slimy. Pithophora feels "cottony" and coarse. : Sites like the NIWA Algae ID Guide
: These are large and "plant-like" but lack true roots and leaves.
: Often Diatoms . They contain fucoxanthin and have silica in their cell walls, making them look like tiny shards of glass under a microscope. 3. Use Quick Field Tests Pithophora feels "cottony" and coarse
: For student projects, a dichotomous key helps identify algae by asking a series of "yes or no" questions about its features. Algae Corner: How to Identify Different Algae Types