Fluorescence responsiveness of unicellular marine algae Dunaliella to stressors under laboratory conditions

•Autofluorescence (500-550 nm and 650-710 nm) was recorded for the first time separately in the body vs. the flagella region in Dunaliella cells.•Custom computational approach was designed, set up and tested to separate the signal from individual Dunaliella body vs. flagella region.•Stressors (Cd, low pH, high light exposure) induced significant green fluorescence opacities in the flagella region, but not in the body region.•Cd did not affect fluorescence lifetimes in FLIM images of segmented flagella vs. body regions, pointing to more fluorescing molecules.•Acidification induced fluorescence lifetime prolongation in the flagella region, indicating modification in the cellular environment.