Cyanobacteria

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-007184",
  "term": "Cyanobacteria",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. A phylum of oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria comprised of unicellular to multicellular bacteria possessing CHLOROPHYLL a and carrying out oxygenic PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Cyanobacteria are the only known organisms capable of fixing both CARBON DIOXIDE (in the presence of light) and NITROGEN. Cell morphology can include nitrogen-fixing heterocysts and/or resting cells called akinetes. Formerly called blue-green algae, cyanobacteria were traditionally treated as ALGAE.\n\n2. A group of phytoplankton which often cause nuisance conditions in water, so called because they contain a blue pigment in addition to chlorophyll (also called “blue-green algae”). Blue-green algae are often associated with problem blooms in lakes. Some produce chemicals toxic to other organisms, including humans. They often form floating scum as they die. Many can fix nitrogen (N2) from the air to provide their own nutrient.\n\n3. Cyanobacteria are a group of cyan colored bacteria often referred to as blue-green algae. <p>Cyanobacteria, are frequently found in freshwater systems. They can also be found in estuarine and marine waters in the U.S. Cyanobacteria are often confused with green algae, because both can produce dense mats that can impede activities like swimming and fishing, and may cause odor problems and oxygen depletion; however, unlike cyanobacteria, green algae are not generally thought to produce toxins. Some freshwater cyanobacterial blooms or cyanoHABs are able to produce highly potent toxins, known as cyanotoxins.</p>",
  "subject": "Water",
  "references": [
    "NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)",
    "NSTEPS Online Glossary; N-STEPS Online Glossary of Terms",
    "How's My Waterway Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/cyanobacteria/"
}