Wim van Egmond Volvox is a genus of freshwater organisms that
contain chlorophyll and live in colonies. The taxonomy of the
creatures, however, is ambiguous, and they are sometimes
considered part of the order Volvocida, a group of flagellate
protozoa, while at other times they are categorized as members
of the green algal division Chlorophyta Individual cells of
Volvox resemble the appearance of Chlamydomonas species. They
are round or oval and exhibit a pair of flagella and a red
eyespot, or stigma. The flagella of the organisms extend outside
of the colony, which may contain as may as 50,000 individuals
and can frequently be seen by the naked eye. The hollow,
mucilaginous balls, which reach up to 1 millimeter in diameter,
are often found spinning gracefully through the water of ponds,
puddles, and ditches. In areas of high nitrogen content, Volvox
blooms may occur, especially in the summer months. In fact,
Volvox may be used as an indicator species, alerting ecologists
of instances of nitrate enrichment. W