Cladophora
- noun
- /klædəˈfɔrə/
- Specialized
:
Cladophora
- The study focused on the role of Cladophora in providing habitat for aquatic invertebrates in both marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Examples
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In the second and third years, algal productivity continued, with less Hydrodictyon and more Cladophora, Spirogyra, and Rhizoclonium.
Academic text (1998) -
During the summer months, large mats of Cladophora can be seen floating on the surface of many freshwater lakes.
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Thus, the Cladophora experiences high herbivory, and without a standing crop of algae, the system may support only two trophic levels: algae and grazers.
Academic text (2000) -
The Cladophora may then bloom and produce clumps that slough off and form floating mats, all of which favor sediment invertebrates that consume the algae and its detritus.
Academic text (2000) -
Increased nutrient levels often lead to rapid growth of Cladophora in shallow coastal waters.
Synonyms
3
3.0
A green living thing that grows on wet rocks, damp wood, or still water
A green plant that grows on wet rocks or wood and in still water
A group of green algae that mostly live in freshwater and came before land plants
Surface Forms
Morphology
Cladophora = clado + phora
The name is a Latinized scientific compound built from Greek combining forms ('clado-' + '-phora') that are technical and not productive standalone English words, so a typical learner cannot derive the meaning from its parts.
Etymology
Cladophora comes from Greek parts klados meaning 'branch' and phora meaning 'bearing' or 'carrying'. That's a helpful image: Cladophora is a 'branch-bearer' because the green algae grow in many branch-like strands and often form dense mats.