Final answer:
The primary type of algae found in an improperly maintained swimming pool is green algae. These algae can proliferate when excessive nutrients are present, leading to algal blooms that can impact pool usability and aquatic ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary type of algae found in an improperly maintained swimming pool is green algae. This group of autotrophic protists is important ecologically and can be found in both freshwater and marine environments. Green algae are categorized into chlorophytes, which include Chlorella and Volvox, and charophytes, which include Spirogyra and Chara. When swimming pools are not properly maintained, nutrients can accumulate, leading to the growth of green algae, which can cloud the water and coat the walls and floor of the pool in a slippery film.
Green algae, alongside organisms like red algae, brown algae, diatoms, and cyanobacteria, play a significant role in photosynthesis and oxygen production in aquatic systems. However, excessive growth of these algae, often due to excessive nutrients from sources such as runoff containing fertilizers, can lead to algal blooms that may be harmful to aquatic life and humans.