Model Organisims
Anabeana
•Anabaena are found in areas such as freshwater lakes, brackish seas and paddy fields etc
•Anabaena is known for its heterocyst’s, Gas vesicles, and secretion of select compounds. They are often called ‘blue-green algae’ due to its colour and it often blooms at optimal conditions.
Nostoc
•Nostoc is an example of a genus within the order Nostocales and family Nostocaceae.
•These organisms are all within group IV (subgroup I)
•Nostoc present characteristics such as long multicellular filaments, reproduction through random trichome breakage and the ability to differentiate into specialized cell types.
•This ability to perform cellular differentiation means Nostoc is remarkably adaptable to environments which would be uninhabitable by other cyanobacterial groups.
N. punctiforme
•The species of Nostoc, N. punctiforme, is known to have an interesting interaction with select plants. This is because it will infect specialised gland organs located within the multiple stems and then move on to infect specific cells of this organism, meaning the cyanobiont will be held intracellularly within the plant.
•Here it will undergo a large amount of differentiation, creating the largest frequency of heterocystous cells of any known cyanobacterial group.
Synechocystis sp
•Synechocystis sp. is a Unicellular cyanobacteria.
•It is a Free-living cyanobacteria and is found in freshwater. •Within this habitat, when Synechocystis sp blooms it can be a sighn of eutrophication. With this rapid response it means that Synechocystis sp can be used as a good indicator of changes within the environment e.g pollution.
