ABSTRACT

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate why each type of algae
shows or projects a different florescent color. To perform this
experiment, water samples were gathered from four different locations (2
ponds from Pine Crest Golf Club, 2 streams from nearby, and a sample
from the Gulf of Mexico). The water samples were placed clear, clean
glass containers, in visible light and allowed the algae to grow. The
algae grew out for about three weeks before the experiment was
conducted. The light sources were a blue light, an ultra violet light, a
red light, a green light, and visible light and evaluated each sample of
algae in the different light sources. The fluorescence was measured
visually. The experiment was performed in a dark room where no visible
light could be seen.
At the end, it was shown that only specific alga fluoresces, and no
fluorescence was detected in my algae samples collected for this
experiment. It all depends on the type of phycobiliproteins and if the
alga is in an active phase.