Chlorococcum sp. A versatile alga
When viewed under the microscope, Chlorococcum appears as tiny green spheres. Yet even without a microscope, this green alga is easy to spot forming a thin green layer on damp surfaces, tree trunks, walls or stones. A familiar sight that hides more abilities than you might expect.
Green monuments
Have you ever seen a statue covered in a green layer? Chances are that Chlorococcum played a part in that. This alga loves to grow on the surfaces of monuments. Its green sheen not only hides the original colour of the stone but, over time, can also cause damage. For restorers, Chlorococcum can be a tricky opponent. Yet, like many microbes, it also has a surprisingly useful side.
Two benefits in one
What if a single microbe could both help the environment and produce energy? Chlorococcum can do exactly that. It thrives in water rich in nutrients such as ammonium and phosphorus the same substances often found in wastewater. While it purifies the water by absorbing these nutrients, the alga also produces fats that can be used to make biodiesel.
And that’s not all: Chlorococcum tends to form clusters, which makes harvesting it from wastewater much easier than with other algae. Two benefits in one cleaner water and renewable energy.
Food for tardigrades
At ARTIS-Micropia, we don’t grow Chlorococcum for biodiesel, but for something much smaller: our tardigrades. The species we keep, Hypsibius exemplaris, is a plant-eater that loves feeding on algae such as Chlorococcum. Through the microscope, you can even see the green algal cells inside its gut. This humble alga is an essential link in the microscopic food chain.
Small but mighty
Measuring only 5 to 15 micrometres across, Chlorococcum is almost invisible to the naked eye — yet it plays a big role in the cycle of life. Whether it’s colouring monuments, purifying water or feeding micro-animals, this versatile alga shows just how ingenious microscopic life can be.
See Chlorococcum sp. under the microscope
Would you like to see Chlorococcum up close? Visit ARTIS-Micropia and discover how these tiny green spheres achieve remarkable things. Look through the microscope and be amazed by the inventiveness of microbes.
Want to learn more about microbes?
Chlorococcum sp. is just one of the many microbes you can explore at ARTIS-Micropia. Each of these microscopic organisms plays a unique role in nature. Come and discover them all.