Prepare for the American Water Works Water Treatment Plant Operator Test. Study with multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready to excel!

Multiple Choice

Which term refers to blue-green algae?

Blue-green algae are cyanobacteria, a group of photosynthetic bacteria that were historically classified with algae. They contain chlorophyll a along with phycobiliproteins, which give the characteristic blue-green color, and many can form blooms in water, sometimes producing toxins. In older classifications, they were placed in a class called Cyanophyceae. The other groups listed are true algae with different cellular structures and pigment combinations: green algae (Chlorophyta) have chlorophylls a and b, diatoms (Bacillariophyta) have silica cell walls, and red algae (Rhodophyta) rely on phycoerythrin for their color. So the term referring to blue-green algae is Cyanophyceae.

Blue-green algae are cyanobacteria, a group of photosynthetic bacteria that were historically classified with algae. They contain chlorophyll a along with phycobiliproteins, which give the characteristic blue-green color, and many can form blooms in water, sometimes producing toxins. In older classifications, they were placed in a class called Cyanophyceae. The other groups listed are true algae with different cellular structures and pigment combinations: green algae (Chlorophyta) have chlorophylls a and b, diatoms (Bacillariophyta) have silica cell walls, and red algae (Rhodophyta) rely on phycoerythrin for their color. So the term referring to blue-green algae is Cyanophyceae.