Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are a phylogenetic group of phototrophic bacteria that are found in a variety of environments and are evolutionarily ancient, morphologically diverse, and ecologically significant. The ability of these organisms to perform oxygenic photosynthesis, which is water-oxidizing, oxygen-evolving, and plant-like in nature, distinguishes them. With a few exceptions, they primarily synthesise chlorophyll and as the primary photosynthetic pigment and phycobiliproteins as light-harvesting pigments.

All are capable of growing solely on carbon dioxide, which they fix primarily through the reductive pentose phosphate pathway. Although some strains have been observed to grow chemoorganotrophic ally in the dark at the expense of external sugars, its chemoorganotrophic potential is limited to the mobilisation of reserve polymers, primarily glycogen, during dark periods. They have some of the most sophisticated morphological differentiation among bacteria, and many species are true multicellular organisms, which is uncommon for bacteria. 

Cyanobacteria have left fossils dating back 2000–3500 million years that are thought to be responsible for the oxygenation of the Earth’s atmosphere. Cyanobacteria are thought to have left fossils dating back 2000–3500 million years. They formed a symbiotic relationship with algae and higher plants during their evolution, which resulted in the formation of plastids in both. 

Cyanobacteria contribute significantly to global primary production in the oceans today, and they have emerged as locally dominant primary producers in a variety of extreme environments, including hot and cold deserts, hot springs, and hypersaline waters. Their total biomass is estimated to be more than 1015 g of wet biomass, with marine unicellular genera accounting for the vast majority of this total. 

The names Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus are derived from the Greek words for “seed” and “seedling,” respectively. In addition to the marine Trichodesmium, the terrestrial Microcoleus vaginatus and Chroococcidiopsis sp. of barren lands are considered Trichodesmium species.

Blooms of cyanobacteria are critical components of the ecology and management of many eutrophic fresh and brackish water bodies, particularly in the tropics. Several cyanobacteria can fix nitrogen in the presence of oxygen, making them key players in the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle of tropical oceans, terrestrial environments, and even some agricultural lands. Cyanobacteria have long been considered algae due to their sometimes large size, metabolism, and ecological importance; even today, it is common to refer to them as blue-green algae, particularly in ecological studies, due to their sometimes large size, metabolism, and ecological role.

What is Cyanobacteria SlideShare all about?

Cyanobacteria terminology division Under the name Cyanophyta, which is short for Cyanobacteria (formerly known as Blue-Green Algae – Cyano = blue – Bacteria), it is recognised that they are more closely related to prokaryotic bacteria than to eukaryotic algae.

What is the biological definition of cyanobacteria?

A cyanobacterium is a type of bacteria.

Cyanobacteria are single-celled members of a large group of photosynthetic bacteria that form colonies in the shape of filaments, sheets, or spheres and can be found in a variety of environments (such as salt and freshwater, soils, and on rocks)

What are cyanobacteria, and how do they function?

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic and aquatic organisms, which means they live in water and can produce their own food. Because they are bacteria, they are typically small and unicellular, though they do form colonies large enough to be observed on occasion.

Who was the person who discovered cyanobacteria?

Stanier and colleagues  recognised that cyanobacteria were prokaryotic organisms in the late 1970s and proposed that they be classified using the International Code of Nomenclature for Bacteria. According to Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, as well as the Stanier approach and Rippka et al.

What role do cyanobacteria play in the environment?

Cyanobacteria are vital to the nitrogen cycling process.

Cyanobacteria, which are extremely beneficial to plant health and growth, benefit a wide range of plants. They are among the few organisms on the planet that can convert inert atmospheric nitrogen into an organic form such as nitrate or ammonia.

What triggered the evolution of cyanobacteria?

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, were among the first organisms to appear millions of years ago on Earth. Rocks that are approximately 3500 million years old and may contain fossilised organisms have been discovered in Western Australia. Despite the fact that they are commonly referred to as blue-green algae, cyanobacteria are not algae.

Cyanobacteria can take on a variety of forms

Cyanobacteria, like other bacteria, come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, as does the rest of the bacterial kingdom. However, three general shapes are most frequently observed: spherical, rod, and spiral  Bacteria can also grow as filamentous cell filaments.

What kinds of cyanobacteria come to mind?

Cyanobacteria organisms include Nostoc, Oscillatoria, Spirulina, Microcystis, and Anabaena.

What is the process in which cyanobacteria participate?

Cyanobacteria are a phylum that contains both unicellular and colonial organisms. Cyanobacteria must harness the energy of sunlight in order to drive photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the use of light energy to split water molecules into oxygen, protons, and electrons.

Which kingdom are cyanobacteria classified as members of?

Cyanobacteria are classified as members of the kingdom Monera and the phylum Cyanobacteria; they are thought to be more closely related to bacteria than plants, and they are no longer considered to be members of the plant family.

What energy sources do cyanobacteria use?

Photosynthesis Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are among the most abundant organisms in both fresh and saltwater, and large populations can be found in the ocean. They are similar to green plants in that they can use the sun’s energy to produce their own food, a process known as photosynthesis.

Do you believe cyanobacteria produce?

Cyanobacteria are important primary producers in aquatic environments and contribute to the phytoplankton community. They have the ability to form biofilms and mats as well (benthic cyanobacteria). In this environment, water blooms, which are high concentrations of cyanobacteria in eutrophic water, are common. Blue-green algae were previously referred to as cyanobacteria.

Conclusion

The vast majority of cyanobacteria are aerobic photoautotrophs. They only need water, carbon dioxide, inorganic substances, and light to sustain their life processes. In these organisms, photosynthesis is the primary mode of energy metabolism.