Lab Exercise 7: Cyanobacteria

Question 1

Define and identify the following: Trichome

Answer 1

Chain of cyanobacteria cells that SHARE resources
Strepto- arrangement

Question 2

Define and identify the following: Heterocyst

Answer 2

cell that fixes N2 responsible for the chemistry involved in converting N2 from the atmosphere to ammonia (chare with other cells in trichome)
Other small ones are doing photosynthesis

Question 3

Define and identify the following: Akinete

Answer 3

-used for survival “resting spore” (eyes closed on plushy)
-last cell to survive when conditions go bad then reproduces & remake more trichome or die
-metabolically inactive help species survive periods of drought

Question 4

Why are they considered producers? (What two things can they do?)

Answer 4

PRODUCERS: making materials for other organisms in the ecosystem
PRODUCE
1) FIX CARBON: take in CO2 →convert to carbohydrate (important b/c would run out of carbon)
organic CO2→ organic (sugars)
2) FIX NITROGEN: N2(nitrate gas) → NH3 (ammonia) most organisms can’t do this

Question 5

Cyanobacteria Organisms & Taxonomy List:

Domain Bacteria

Kingdom - there are no Kingdoms in this domain

Phylum Cyanobacteria
-Genus Nostoc
-Genus Spirulina
-Genus Anabaena
-Genus Oscillatoria