The Invisible ABCs

Exploring the World of Microbes...

Letter K

Scytomena

Habitat:

 

Scytonema is a photosynthetic bacterium.  They live in aquatic environments or in moist soils. 

 

Importance:

 

Scytonema is a microorganism that harvests its energy from sunlight using a process known as photosynthesis.  During photosynthesis, oxygen is released.  In addition, Scytonema and other photosynthetic microbes are the basis for the food chain in aquatic environments.

 

Classification:

 

Scytonema is one of the thin-walled bacteria that are known as cyanobacteria.  Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic.  It forms a slimy sheath around filaments formed from chains of cells.