Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, is a group of photosynthetic bacteria widely distributed in various aquatic habitats (oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, etc.) and terrestrial habitats (e.g. moist soils)
Cyanobacteria under Microscope
Structure of Vegetative Cyanobacterial cell
Thylakoid(where light reaction of photosynthesis happen)
Exposed DNA
Cell Wall
Carboxysome(where fixation of carbon dioxide of photosynthesis happen)
Cyanobacteria blooms VS
Algae blooms
How to distinguish Cyanobacteria and Algae in real-life scenarios?
Appearance
Toxicity
Odors
Movement
Date of bloom
Spilled-latex-paint looks
Most species is toxic
Rotten, Fishy and septic smell
Stay in water column
Often occur in late summer
Floating green dots in water
None
Most has no smells
Can wash up on shore
Often occur in early summer
Cyano
Algae
Heterocysts- Anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment necessary for nitrogen fixation
Akinetes- spore-like, thick-walled, nonmotile, dormant cells; function as a survival strategy;
Remain dormant in severe and less idea
environments(eg. droughts)
Morphology
-First sign of multi-cellularity in life history
Cyanobacteria exist in a variety of forms in the environment, from unicellular(leftmost) and colonial(middle) all the way to filamentous forms(rightmost)
This multicellular characteristic extends cyanobacteria functions other than photosynthesis, like Nitrogen Fixation (Heterocysts), Movement, Better Resistance to Harsh Environment (Akinetes)