Nature Photos

Image 1. Nostoc parmelioides, growing on a rock in a stream, photographed underwater.
The original notes indicate "with insect larvae" but they don't appear to be visible in the photo.
From the sub-alpine zone, northern Sierra Nevada, California

Image 2. Tiny threads of Nostoc commune, a cyanobacterium, on soil in Idaho.
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic; they used to be called "blue-green algae".
In arid lands, cyanobacteria help to prevent soil erosion, and they add the nutrient nitrogen as well.

Image 3. Tiny balls of Nostoc, a cyanobacterium, on an embankment in northern California.

Image 4. Nostoc, growing on a wet rock in Glacier National Park, Montana

Image 5. Nostoc on soil in Texas

Image 6. This might be balls of Nostoc growing on moss, unless it's a fungus or ??.
From the Klamath Range, northwestern California

Image 7. The black strands are the cyanobacterium Microcoleus, growning on soil.
Microcoleus can be extremely important in binding soil against erosion. From southern Idaho

Image 8. Stigonema, a cyanobacterium, on a rock.
From the North Shore of Lake Superior, Ontario.

Image 9. A cyanobacterium, with balls resembling Nostoc,
on loose rock in the central Coast Range of California

Image 10. A cyanobacterium, with balls resembling Nostoc,
on loose rock in the central Coast Range of California