CU Museum of Natural History
Dinobryon
Dinobryon is a colony of cells, each one sitting within a vase-shaped lorica or covering, and the whole colony swims together. The pigmentation of this alga is dominated by brownish to orange hues, giving it a golden-brown color, a feature of the algal group called Chrysophtes. The small red pigment, termed a ‘stigma’ or ‘eye spot’ allows the cells to orient themselves relative to light. Dinobryon species are “mixotrophic” being able to produce their own food through photosynthesis, but also able to capture and digest bacteria. Dinobryon is commonly found in lakes and reservoirs across Colorado.
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(Photo by Patrick Kociolek)
Dinobryon
Dinobryon is a colony of cells, each one sitting within a vase-shaped lorica or covering, and the whole colony swims together. The pigmentation of this alga is dominated by brownish to orange hues, giving it a golden-brown color, a feature of the algal group called Chrysophtes. The small red pigment, termed a ‘stigma’ or ‘eye spot’ allows the cells to orient themselves relative to light. Dinobryon species are “mixotrophic” being able to produce their own food through photosynthesis, but also able to capture and digest bacteria. Dinobryon is commonly found in lakes and reservoirs across Colorado.
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(Photo by Patrick Kociolek)