Blue-green algae
Synechococcus spp
Synechococcus is a group of microscopic cyanobacteria that typically measure only about 0.5–2 micrometers in diameter, making them among the smallest photosynthetic organisms in the ocean. These tiny cells use sunlight to make their own food and contain colorful pigments that help them capture light efficiently.
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About this species
Species identity
Synechococcus is a group of microscopic cyanobacteria that typically measure only about 0.5–2 micrometers in diameter, making them among the smallest photosynthetic organisms in the ocean. These tiny cells use sunlight to make their own food and contain colorful pigments that help them capture light efficiently.
Where it lives
They are found in oceans around the world, from tropical to polar regions, as well as in many lakes and rivers. In the ocean, they live mainly in the sunlit surface waters, where they use sunlight for photosynthesis. They are especially abundant in nutrient-poor open-ocean waters but are also common in productive coastal areas.
Role in the ecosystem
They make its own food using sunlight and forms an important part of the base of the ocean food web. It is eaten by tiny drifting animals and other microscopic organisms, helping transfer energy to larger marine life. It also produces oxygen and plays a major role in the global cycling of carbon and nutrients.
Scientific reference
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Ocean Literacy Connections
This resource can be explored through Ocean biodiversity, Ocean makes life possible and One ocean, many features.
- How do different ocean conditions create different ecosystems and ways of life?
- How did the ocean help make Earth a place where life could thrive?
- How do different ocean places belong to one connected system?
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FAQ
Is Synechococcus a plant or a bacterium?
It is a bacterium! Synechococcus belongs to a group called cyanobacteria. Even though it is a bacterium, it uses sunlight to make its own food, just like plants do.
Can Synechococcu survive where there are very few nutrients?
Yes! Synechococcus is very efficient at using tiny amounts of nutrients, which helps it thrive in many nutrient-poor parts of the open ocean where larger algae cannot grow as well.