BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

SYSTEMA LAB (LBYBI12)

Exercise 4

CYANOBACTERIA

Introduction complementary

Cyanobacteria, formerly called the blue green algae, comprise a group of oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryotes. Like all
other bacteria, they lack membrane-bound nucleus and complex organelles. Unlike other bacteria, their cell membrane
is equipped with simple, flattened vesicles called thylakoids. Such thylakoids contain chlorophyll a that enables them to
release oxygen through photosynthesis much like algae and plants. This release of oxygen by cyanobacteria had
dramatically changed the earth’s atmosphere from a reducing to an oxidizing one and subsequently shaped the ecology
and evolution of various forms of life on our planet. The cyanobacteria that successfully lived as symbiont in other
prokaryotes also led to the evolution of photosynthetic eurkaryotes based on the endosymbiotic theory of the origin of
eukaryotes.

Traditionally, all prokaryotes are classified under the Kingdom Monera. Recent molecular studies, however, now
classified the prokaryotes under two domains: Bacteria and Archaea. The Taxonomic Outline of Bacteria and Archaea
(TOBA Release 7.7) listed cyanobacteria as one of the 25 divisions under the Domain Bacteria based on genomic data.
Although classification based on genome reveals evolutionary relationships among prokaryotes, the classification based
on the morphological and biochemical features remain as the most practical way of grouping these organisms (see
Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology).

Cyanobacteria occur in various body forms: coccoid or unicellular, colonial and filamentous. The coccoid or unicellular
forms occur singly or in colonies of two or more cells usually forming jelly-like masses enclosed in a gelatinous or
mucilaginous sheath. The trichomate or filamentous forms can be uniseriate (composed of a single row of cells) or
multiseriate (composed of several rows of cells) and may or may not be enclosed in a gelatinous sheath. Such filamentous
forms may either have true branching or false branching filaments. Based largely on these body forms, the cyanobacteria
are traditionally classified under five orders:

Order Chroococcales – solitary cells, aggregations and colonies not reproducing by spores
Order Pleurocapsales – solitary cells, aggregations and short filaments reproducing by spores
Order Oscillatoriales – unbranched homocystous filaments, i.e. without heterocysts and akinetes
Order Nostocales – unbranched filaments with heterocysts and akinetes
Order Stigonematales – branched filaments (sometimes multiseriate) with heterocysts and akinetes

The first three orders are yet to be supported by phylogenetic studies but the heterocystous cyanobacteria (Nostocales
and Stigonematales) have now been found to be a monophyletic group based on the 16S rRNA analysis.

Objectives
1. To distinguish the representative cyanobacteria based on their morphological features.
2. To appreciate the diversity, economic and ecological importance of the cyanobacteria.

Materials
Specimen Images
 BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEMA LAB (LBYBI12)

Procedure

1. Be familiar with the representative cyanobacteria as described below. You may refer to the pre-lab discussion/
demonstration by your teacher as well as available resources from the internet but be thoughtful to include
proper citation.

a. Gloeocapsa. It is a relatively simple cyanobacterium. Its spherical cells either grow singly or in small
aggregations (=colonies) held together by a firm mucilaginous sheath. The sheath is often colored and
has distinct layers that delineate each cell's contribution. Reproduction is carried out by simple binary
fission.

b. Oscillatoria. This filamentous cyanobacterium consists of a single series of similar cells (homocystous)
that are shorter than wide except for terminal cells with a modified shape. No mucilaginous sheath
encloses the filament. If often grows in mats or interwoven filaments that may show active gliding or
"oscillating" movement to adjust filament density in a mat in response to environmental conditions.
How this movement is produced is not fully understood but probably involves mucilage secretion.
Reproduction is achieved fragmentation, when part of a filament breaks off producing short segments
called hormogonia. Hormogonia, oftentimes distinguishable by their cell shape, greater motility and
presence of gas vesicles, detach from vegetative filaments at separation discs. Hormogonia grow by
adding new cells.

c. Spirulina. This filamentous, homocytous cyanobacterium is easily distinguishable by its spiral trichome,
which lacks a mucilagenous sheath. The high protein content of Spirulina merits its being a food
supplement.

d. Anabaena. It is a filamentous cyanobacterium forming heterocysts (specialized cells for N2 fixation) and
akinetes (thick-walled cells formed after a period of active growth that survive in a dormant state when
conditions are unfavorable for further growth). Both heterocysts and akinetes are larger and with thicker
walls than the vegetative cells. Akinetes differ from heterocysts in having granular cytoplasm with an
abundance of cyanophycin granules. Anabaena's unbranched filaments appear like a string of beads.

e. Nostoc. This cyanobacterium is much similar with Anabaena, but has a thick and firm mucilaginous
sheath which may enclose the filaments into highly visible colonies as in Nostoc commune. This
particular species is highly nutritious. Draw and label the parts as in Anabaena.

f. Rivularia. This forms colonies in which the sheaths of one filament are confluent with others. The sheaths
are heavily encrusted with lime and are very firm. The filaments are polarized with a terminal heterocysts
under conditions of low nitrogen concentration. When grown in media containing nitrogenous
compounds, heterocysts are not formed and the trichomes are not tapered, thus, resembling species of
genera such as Oscillatoria.

2. Accomplish the accompanying worksheet and submit online via agreed platform on or before set deadline.
 BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEMA LAB (LBYBI12)

References:
Berg L. 2012. Introduction to Botany. Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd. pp.401-411.
Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (successive volumes published from 1984-2012)
Campbell N, et al. 2018. Biology: a global approach. 11th ed. Pearson International Edition/Pearson Benjamin Cummings, U.S.A.
Garrity GM, Lilburn TG, Cole JR, Harrison SH, Euzeby J, Tindall BJ. 2007. The Taxonomic Outline of Bacteria and Archaea (TOBA)
Release 7.7. Available at http://www.taxonomicoutline.org
Lee RE. 1999. Phycology (3rd ed.) Cambridge University Press. pp. 67-110.
Sze P. 1998. A Biology of the Algae (3rd ed.) WCB./McGraw-Hill Co., Inc. pp. 21-38

Prepared by EH Mandia June 2020