Cyanobacteria
Definition
Photosynthetic prokaryotic bacteria, often called blue-green algae. Form surface scums in warm, nutrient-rich water. Contain characteristic cellular structures (heterocysts, akinetes) identifiable microscopically. Their presence on evidence indicates contact with eutrophic standing water during bloom conditions.
- Also called
- Blue-green algae
- Type
- Photosynthetic prokaryotic bacteria
- Diagnostic structures
- Heterocysts, akinetes
- Habitat signal
- Warm, nutrient-rich (eutrophic) standing water
Common questions
Why does finding cyanobacteria on a body or item matter more than finding ordinary green algae?+
Cyanobacteria bloom under specific eutrophic, warm, still-water conditions, so their presence narrows the likely water body type and season of immersion more precisely than algae that tolerate a wider range of conditions.
Are cyanobacteria identified the same way as diatoms in forensic limnology?+
No. Diatom analysis relies on silica frustule shape under a microscope after acid digestion, while cyanobacteria are identified by their cellular structures such as heterocysts and akinetes and generally do not survive the same digestion protocol, so they are examined separately.
Related terms
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- Limnological Profiling
- Building a characterisation of a water body using physical, chemical, and biological measurements. Forensically, the profile is the reference against which biological...
- Limnology
- The scientific study of the biology, chemistry, and physics of inland waters (lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands). Its reference databases of species assemblages...
- Macroalgae
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- Phytoplankton
- Microscopic photosynthetic organisms that live suspended in the water column. Includes diatoms plus green algae, cyanobacteria, chrysophytes, dinoflagellates, and euglenoids. The full...