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Living Organisms / Monera (Bacteria) / Bacteria
with Gram negative staining cell-walls / Genus:
Nostoc
· Bacterial
genera and types to have Wildpro links
· Morphology
and Staining
· Genera
"type species"
· References
| Members of this genus are cyanobacteria ("blue-green alga" -
oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria) and have been recorded as as cause of Blue-green Algal toxicosis due to
pronounced growth "water bloom" (particularly when the water is fertile and
there is accelerated eutrophication) and the release of either hepatotoxins or neurotoxins
(Blue-Green
Algae Toxins)(B15).
Some cyanobacteria may become buoyant in certain conditions and form dense floating mats
on the water surface. Information on the cyanobacteria is held only at Genus level. Nostoc species occur as amorphous sheets or masses of gel-bound trichomes in freshwater or in moist terrestrial locations. They are known to form thick soft mats in polar regions. Some species are symbionts with fungi to become the fixing phycobiont in cyanolichens. They are also symbionts for plants such as bryophytes, cycads and angiosperms. Nostoc rivulare has been associated with toxic blooms. (B15) |
Morphology and Staining |
|
| Shape | Filamentous organisms - trichomes (chains of connected cells) are untapered with conspicuous constrictions at cross-walls. The individual cells are cylindrical, spherical or ovoid (barrel-shaped) and are not shorter than broad. "[Some colonies form] flattened disks or large sheets, or may be soft and amorphous. Colonies range from microscopic to over 20cm in diameter". (B76) (B79) |
| Heterocysts | This genera are
considered members of the order Nostocales which divide
exclusively by binary fission in one plane only, and have the possibility of producing
heterocysts (larger and more spherical than normal cells, they are non-photosynthetic
cells that fix nitrogen). (B76)
(B79) "Nostoc heterocysts are intercalary [occur between the vegetative cells] under most circumstances." (B76) |
| Staining | Gram-negative (B76) |
| Size | |
| Toxin formation | Production of hepatotoxins has been observed in some species of this genera. (B15) |
| Metabolism | "Photosynthesise - convert solar enery and Carbon dioxide to food and other energy types." (B76) (B79) |
Genera "Type Species" |
|---|
|
| Primary References at the level of this taxa | |
|---|---|
Genus Author |
Suzanne Boardman |
| B79 | Lynn Margulis and Karlene V Schwartz |
| Five Kingdoms - An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth, 3rd Edition | |
| B76 | Noel R Krieg and John G Holt |
| Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology - Volume 3 | |
| B15 | G.A. Wobeser |
| Diseases of Wild Waterfowl Second Edition | |