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Cylindro (Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii)

Cylindro Description: Cylindro was likely introduced to the Great Lakes via ballast water. It can be transported to new water bodies by migrating waterfowl, recreational items, or natural water flow.

Habit: One of many species of blue-green algae composed of trichomes (chained filaments) that are solitary and straight. Trichomes range from 51?311 ?m in length and 1.7?4.2 ?m in width, heterocytes are 5?11 ?m by 2?5 ?m, and akinetes are 8?16 ?m by 2?5 ?m

Habitat: Native to South America. Found in low densities in many inland lakes and reservoirs surrounding the Great Lakes region.

Reproduction:

Impact and Damage: This species of photosynthetic cyanobacteria is capable of forming toxins that are harmful to human health when in bloom. Other organisms are affected by blooms due to fluctuations in oxygen and pH levels.

Monitoring and rapid response: No known biological control. A mechanical system can be used to create artificial de-stratification to increase vertical mixing, introduce oxygen, and reduce internal nutrient loading. Can be inactivated by chlorine, ozone, and hydroxyl radical treatments. Copper-based algicides may inhibit the degradation.

Credits: The information provided in this factsheet was gathered from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindegenous Information System.

Individual species images that appear with a number in a black box are courtesy of the Bugwood.org network (http://www.invasive.org). Individual photo author credits may not be included due to the small display size of the images and subsequent difficulty of reading the provided text. All other images appear courtesy of Google (http://images.google.com).


Common Name:

Cylindro

Scientific Name:

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii

Family:

Nostocaceae
(Cyanobacteria)

Duration:

NA

Habit:

Algae

USDA Symbol:

NA