Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria ‘known as’ BlueGreen Algae - Cyano = blue - Bacteria =they are more closely related to prokaryotic bacteria (No Nucleus) than eukaryotic algae

Microscopic organisms Gets energy through photosynthesis Cyanobacteria can be found in almost every conceivable environment, from oceans to fresh water to bare rock to soil

Blue Green Pigment Phycocyanin BlueGreen Color Chlorophyll Green Color

Forms Forms Unicell – Colonies – Filaments – Can live as one cell or in colonies, filaments, sheets or hollow balls

What are some cell types of blue green bacteria? Normal cells Cells with resistant spores (akinetes) Thick walled cells for fixing nitrogen (heteocysts) thick walled cell, hollow looking. Larger than vegetative cells. FUNCTION – provides the anerobic environment for N fixation.

Heterocyst

Importance Nitrogen Fixation ONLY cyanobacteria and prokaryotic bacteria can FIX nitrogen

What are some parts of blue-green bacteria Thick, gelatin cell wall No flagella How do they reproduce? Hormogonia are filaments that glide away from the main mass, bud, and reproduce.

Nostoc found in soil and in fresh-water Form: coccoi cells forming filaments in a gelatinous sheath. often with specialized cells called heterocysts and akinetes. Akinetes formed when colony matures. Nostoc Often associated with fungi in lichens.

Anabaena similar to Nostoc, except large balls are not normally formed. anbaena Cells more elongate, less rounded.

Oscillatoria Shape-filaments and covered by multi-layered mucilage, the mucilagenous sheath is longer than the filament

Gloeocapsa Shape-may be unicellular or made up of small groups of cells grouped within mucilage envelopes. and The cells are oval-shaped and enclosed within mucilage.