Cyanobacteria (cyanophyta)

Cyanobacteria (Cyanophyta) – –

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Prokaryotic organisms, multicelullar organisms – have more types of cells They live in water and therefore we call them aquatic organisms. Specific blue – green colour Can adapt to extreme conditions Primary producers = They produce OXYGEN Important component of marine nitrogen cycle – Obtain energy through Photo synthesis ○ They assimilate the energy from the synthesis

Different pigments in comparison to the plant kingdom: phycocyanin and phycoeritrin (that make the distinctive colour)

Structures –

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Vegetative cell ○ The normal, photosynthetic cells that are formed under favourable growing conditions Akinetes ○ The climate-resistant spores that may form when environmental conditions become harsh ○ Heterocysts ○ Thick-walled cells which differ in their appearance, they contain enzyme for nitrogen fixation

Representatives – –

Anabaena flos acquae Aphanizomenon flos aquae

Both of them are parts of Algal bloom

Health risks – –

Cyanobacteria produce so-called cyanotoxins These toxins can be neurotoxins, heptatotoxins, cytotoxins, endotoxins ○ Neurotoxins  Specifically affects nerve cells  There is no possible transport among nerves • Your muscles cannot contract etc.

Breathing muscles might be stopped as well as diaphragm (branice) ○ Heptatotoxins  Toxic chemical substance which damages the liver ○ Cytotoxins  A substance having a specific toxic effect on certain cells of specific organ ○ Endotoxins  A toxin that forms an integral part of the cell wall of certain bacteria and is only released upon destruction of the bacterial cell •