Cryptomonad (Noun)
Meaning
Common in fresh and salt water appearing along the shore as algal blooms.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The colorful streaks of algae that line the shoreline after a storm are often the result of cryptomonad blooms.
- Along with diatoms and green algae, cryptomonads are among the most common types of phytoplankton found in aquatic ecosystems.
- Scientists have been studying the role of cryptomonads in aquatic food webs, specifically their relationship to zooplankton and other predators.
- A sudden increase in cryptomonad populations can cause the water to turn a bright shade of red, a phenomenon known as a "blood tide."
- During the summer months, cryptomonads often form algal blooms in shallow lakes and coastal areas, depleting the water of oxygen and causing fish kills.