Cyanobacteria - Introduction

Description:

Cyanobacteria are also called blue green algae. They are gram positive photosynthetic bacteria which perform oxygenic photosynthesis.

Photosynthetic pigments in cyanobacteria include chlorophyll a, carotenoids and phycobillins. Food is stored in the form of starch, lipid globules and protein granules.

Cyanobacteria are found in all types of environment- fresh water, sea water, salt water, salt marshes, moist rocks, tree trunks etc.

The red sea is named after the colouration provided by red coloured cyanobacteria known as Trichodesmium erythraeum.