Closterium acerosum (Closterium acerosum) observed in Southern Springs Ln, Upper Marlboro, MD, US
iNaturalist: chrisda1st
Citizen Science
The tiny algae living in ponds and streams near your neighborhood are early-warning indicators of water quality — when species like this one show up healthy, it signals the local freshwater ecosystem is still functioning well.
Someone found a microscopic green alga — a single-celled organism shaped like a crescent moon — in a local waterway in Maryland. These little algae are completely natural and actually a sign of clean, healthy fresh water. They're too small to see without a microscope, but they play a big role in keeping pond and stream ecosystems balanced.
Key Findings
Research-grade observation of Closterium acerosum confirmed in Upper Marlboro, MD, contributing a verified data point to its mid-Atlantic range map.
The sighting was classified as research-grade, meaning it met iNaturalist's community identification standards with photographic evidence.
Closterium acerosum is a desmid (a type of green microalga) typically found in clean, slightly acidic freshwater habitats, suggesting suitable water conditions at this site.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A green alga called Closterium acerosum was spotted in a freshwater habitat in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This citizen-science sighting adds to the known distribution of this microscopic organism in the mid-Atlantic region.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of Closterium acerosum in Southern Springs Ln, Upper Marlboro, MD, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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