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Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms that contain chlorophyll. Formerly considered blue-green algae, but actually closely related to bacteria, cyanobacteria are of special importance in the balance of nature. Cyanobacteria were the earliest oxygen-producing organisms on Earth (remnants of cyanobacteria have been found in fossils dating back 2.5 billion years) and were responsible for converting Earth's non-oxygen atmosphere to oxygen. Cyanobacteria are found in water and soil and can tolerate great ranges in salinity and temperature. Some species of cyanobacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen to compounds of nitrogen used by plants. Other species of cyanobacteria (such as the one shown here) are grown commercially as a protein-rich human food supplement.
Image and text copyright © Dennis Kunkel. All rights reserved. |
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