Emiliania huxleyi
Emiliania huxleyi occur in the sea and often have a bloom in the spring in the coastal area of Norway and in the fjords. Everyone can observe the blooming of Emilianina huxleyi due to the change of colour of the water, from ordinary brown/green to more like milk-white colour. The colour is dependent of the amount of cells. The algae are not toxic. The cell has two long flagella and the little extra (called haptonema) special for the group Chrysophyceae. The group, including Emiliania, has cells with a cell covering consisting of organic scales only detectable with the electron microscope. The scales are incrusted with calcium. The colour changing under a bloom is due to the reflection of light from the scales. May be is Emiliania huxleyi one of the best studies flagellates in regards to its physiology. The cell, always singular, is only 10 my i diameter.
The image shows the colour of the water in the blooming period (may) from the Nordås-water by Bergen.