ACUF

The hot springs of Campi Flegrei Caldera (Naples, Italy). The blue-green mats are formed by members of Cyanidiophytina (Rhodophyta). A member of this group, Cyanidium caldarium, can thrive under a pure CO2 atmosphere! (https://www.nature.com/articles/227744a0.pdf?origin=ppub)

Interfilum paradoxum (Chlorophyta) belongs to the green algal class Ulvophyceae. Many report suggest a wide distribution in various terrestrial habitats, indicating probably a worldwide distribution similar to the closely related Klebsormidium. Interfilum represents an important phototrophic component of biological soil crusts, producing a joint matrix by gluing soil particles to themselves. Such microbiotic crusts exert a dominating influence on global carbon fixation and nitrogen fixation, along with other ecological functions such as mineralization, water retention, stabilization of soils, and dust trapping. This species forms unicells, dyads, packets, cubic aggregates, with cells surrounded by bipartite cell walls, dividing by vegetative cell division, forming chains of cells connected by ‘threads’ of mucilaginous nature, revealed by light microscopy and methylene blue staining. Cells has one parietal chloroplast and a central pyrenoid surrounded by several or many starch grains. Some studies reveals that these organisms can be a potential source of natural antioxidants, that may be applied in the field of human nutrition.
Mikhailyuk et al., 2014. Morphology and ultrastructure of Interfilum and Klebsormidium (Klebsormidiales, Streptophyta) with special reference to cell division and thallus formation.
Interfilum paradoxum, DIC; epifluorescence; methylene-blu stained; brightfield.
Nikon Eclipse E800, 100x magnification;