Phormidium is a cyanobacteria that forms a string of bright green cells. This blue-green algae is commonly found in fresh water, such as dykes or ponds. Cyanobacteria also produce their own food.
Phormidium is a cyanobacteria that forms a string of bright green cells. This blue-green algae is commonly found in fresh water, such as dykes or ponds. Cyanobacteria also produce their own food.
Algae, or not?
Phormidium is a blue-green algae, not to be confused with green algae. Blue-green algae are not algae at all, but bacteria: cyanobacteria. These cyanobacteria do have one thing in common with algae and that is that they produce their own food (sugars) via a process known as photosynthesis. In this process sunlight is used as an energy source and carbon dioxide as reagent. This is referred to as autotrophic.
Scared of blue-green algae
Blue-green algae are unfortunately not only known for their ability to produce oxygen but also for their production of toxins. These toxins can cause irritation of the eyes and skin, headaches and stomach and gut complaints. These microbes are often found in swimming waters. A swimming ban because of blue-green algae is most common in summer when the blue-green algae grows more rapidly due to higher temperatures. This results in higher concentrations of toxin in the water, which you would rather avoid.
Would you like to know more about blue-green and green algae, come visit Micropia.