Cyanobacteria in Freshwater ponds

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RobBerdan
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Cyanobacteria in Freshwater ponds

#1 Post by RobBerdan » Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:01 am

Cyanobacteria used to be called blue-green algae, but they are related to bacteria - procaryotes which lack a nucleus and fossil evidence suggests they have been around for over 3 billion years.
They produced the earth's first oxygen. Some species are able to produce potent toxins. I have always been fascinated with them and below are a few pictures of two species I photographed recently.

Nostoc is very common in fresh water ponds it can form spheres up to a tennis ball in size and look like like green grapes. They are encased within a mucilaginous matrix.The spheres seem to divide and form more spheres sometimes forming a chain that resembles a large molecule. They can withstand desiccation and are often found in close proximity to other algae. Some ciliates and rotifers appear to feed on them.
Nostoc  caeruleum cyanobacteria Fluorescence microscopy Acridine orange stain
Nostoc caeruleum cyanobacteria Fluorescence microscopy Acridine orange stain
s150_Pan29_33_1024.jpg (80.5 KiB) Viewed 2803 times
Nostoc  caeruleum  Darkfield microscopy 5X objective
Nostoc caeruleum Darkfield microscopy 5X objective
s149_DSC_0006b_1024.jpg (175.39 KiB) Viewed 2803 times
Nostoc filaments bright field microscopy 200X
Nostoc filaments bright field microscopy 200X
s150_DSC_000_10244.jpg (114.91 KiB) Viewed 2803 times
Nostoc filaments Fluorescence microscopy 200X some cells are larger called Heterocysts that are involved in nitrogen fixation
Nostoc filaments Fluorescence microscopy 200X some cells are larger called Heterocysts that are involved in nitrogen fixation
s150_DSC_0003_1024.jpg (51.79 KiB) Viewed 2803 times
Merismopedia - form regular rows and were the first solar cells - focus stack 400X
Merismopedia - form regular rows and were the first solar cells - focus stack 400X
s149_fs314_321_1024.jpg (200.27 KiB) Viewed 2803 times

DonSchaeffer
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Re: Cyanobacteria in Freshwater ponds

#2 Post by DonSchaeffer » Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:51 am

What are these? They don't look like any bacteria I've ever seen. Oh I see! They are what I have called "Blue Green Algae." I've seen these a lot.

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Wes
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Re: Cyanobacteria in Freshwater ponds

#3 Post by Wes » Fri Jul 03, 2020 6:37 am

Nice images, especially the first one!
DonSchaeffer wrote:
Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:51 am
What are these? They don't look like any bacteria I've ever seen. Oh I see! They are what I have called "Blue Green Algae." I've seen these a lot.
Blue green algae are cyanobacteria.
Zeiss Photomicroscope III BF/DF/Pol/Ph/DIC/FL/Jamin-Lebedeff
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Sabatini
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Re: Cyanobacteria in Freshwater ponds

#4 Post by Sabatini » Fri Jul 03, 2020 4:38 pm

Very good work.
Thanks You.

Zuul
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Re: Cyanobacteria in Freshwater ponds

#5 Post by Zuul » Fri Jul 03, 2020 5:07 pm

Great images! I really appreciate that you add the technique and objective info.

DrPhoxinus
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Re: Cyanobacteria in Freshwater ponds

#6 Post by DrPhoxinus » Fri Jul 03, 2020 5:44 pm

Acridine Orange is a powerful mutagen that causes frameshift mutations in DNA. Great image

Gerard

DonSchaeffer
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Re: Cyanobacteria in Freshwater ponds

#7 Post by DonSchaeffer » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:46 pm

I didn't realize how ancient these Cyanobacteria are and how important that have been to the generation of oxygen and shaping life on the planet. I won't hate them any more.

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