Green algae scatter off sharp viscosity gradients

We study the behaviour of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CR) in the presence of neighbouring regions of different viscosity. We show that the velocity and angular diffusion of the algae decreases when the viscosity of the surrounding medium is increased. We report on a phenomenon occurring when the algae try to cross from a region of low viscosity to a highly viscous one, which causes CR to re-orient and scatter away from the interface if it is approached at a sufficiently small angle. We highlight that the effect does not occur for CR crossing from high to low viscosity regions. Lastly we show that algae do not concentrate in the region of high viscosity despite them swimming slower there. On the contrary, they concentrate in the region of low viscosity or maintain a uniform concentration profile, depending on the viscosity ratio between the two regions.

Automated summary

The behavior of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is influenced by the viscosity of the surrounding medium, with decreased velocity and angular diffusion in higher viscosity environments. An interesting phenomenon occurs when the algae attempt to cross from low to high viscosity regions, causing them to re-orient and scatter away from the interface. Despite swimming slower in high viscosity regions, the algae do not concentrate there, instead showing a preference for low viscosity regions or maintaining a uniform concentration profile based on the viscosity ratio between the two regions.