Lyngbya
| Lyngbya | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lyngbya sp. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Cyanobacteria |
| Class: | Cyanophyceae |
| Order: | Oscillatoriales |
| Family: | Oscillatoriaceae |
| Genus: | Lyngbya Agardh Ex Gomont, 1892[1] |
| Species | |
Lyngbya is a genus of cyanobacteria, unicellular autotrophs that form the basis of the oceanic food chain.
Lyngbya species form long, unbranching filaments inside a rigid mucilagenous sheath. Sheaths may form tangles or mats, intermixed with other phytoplankton species. They reproduce asexually. Their filaments break apart and each cell forms a new filament.[2] The mats grow around atolls, salt marshes, or fresh water.[3]
Some Lyngbya species cause the human skin irritation called seaweed dermatitis.[4]
Some Lyngbya species can also temporarily monopolize aquatic ecosystems when they form dense, floating mats in the water.
Ingestion of Lyngbya is potentially lethal.[3] Most commonly poisoning is caused by eating fish which have fed on Lyngbya or on other fish which have done so.[3] This is called ciguatura poisonining.[3]
References
- ^ Lyngbya Agardh Ex Gomont, 1892 ITIS. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
- ^ Lyngbya, Cyanobacteria, ALGAL-ED, Freshwater Ecology Laboratory, Connecticut College Archived 2013-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d Turner, Nancy J.; von Aderkas, Patrick (2009). "3: Poisonous Plants of Wild Areas". The North American Guide to Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms. Portland, OR: Timber Press. pp. 115–6. ISBN 9780881929294. OCLC 747112294.
- ^ "Seaweed dermatitis". New Zealand Dermatological Society. 2007-02-24.
External links
- Lyngbya Agardh 1824. Protist Information Server.
- Lyngbya species. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. University of Florida IFAS.
- Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Lyngbya". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.