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Why can Chlamydomonas turn pond water green?
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Algae
The macroscopic genus of algae known as Acetabularia is commonly called “mermaid's wine glass” because of the distinctive umbrella-like shape of the tips of its stalks.
Chlamydomonas can turn pond water green because species within this genus of green algae are capable of becoming extremely abundant in fresh water. When their population density reaches high levels, the collective presence of these single-celled organisms imparts a green coloration to the water.1