What is special about Prochlorococcus?
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What is special about Prochlorococcus?
The minute photosynthetic prokaryote Prochlorococcus, which was discovered about 10 years ago, has proven exceptional from several standpoints. Its tiny size (0.5 to 0.7 μm in diameter) makes it the smallest known photosynthetic organism.
What is Prochlorococcus and why is it so important?
Prochlorococcus microbes are among the major primary producers in the ocean, responsible for a large percentage of the photosynthetic production of oxygen. Prochlorococcus strains, called ecotypes, have physiological differences enabling them to exploit different ecological niches.
Why is Prochlorococcus important to life in the oceans and on land?
Prochlorococcus is very important to the Earth’s ecosystem. It makes up the base of the food chain in the oceans. They may account for 20% of the global production of oxygen (1 out of every 5 breaths you take are from Prochlorococci), and they take up to 25% of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Is Prochlorococcus a Marinus?
There is only one species in the genus. Thus, Prochlorococcus is synonymous with Prochlorococcus marinus.
How much oxygen is produced by Prochlorococcus?
One particular species, Prochlorococcus, is the smallest photosynthetic organism on Earth. But this little bacteria produces up to 20% of the oxygen in our entire biosphere.
Where is Prochlorococcus marinus found?
the ocean
Abstract. Prochlorococcus marinus, the dominant photosynthetic organism in the ocean, is found in two main ecological forms: high-light-adapted genotypes in the upper part of the water column and low-light-adapted genotypes at the bottom of the illuminated layer.
Who discovered Prochlorococcus?
Penny Chisholm
About 20 years ago, researchers discovered Prochlorococcus, a photosynthetic marine microorganism. Penny Chisholm, a biologist at MIT whose work led to the discovery of the microbe, talks about its role in producing 20 percent of the oxygen in the Earth’s air.
How do Prochlorococcus produce oxygen?
These plants produce oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, a process which converts carbon dioxide and sunlight into sugars the organism can use for energy. One type of phytoplankton, Prochlorococcus, releases countless tons of oxygen into the atmosphere. It is so small that millions can fit in a drop of water.
How many Prochlorococcus cells are in the ocean?
3 billion billion billion Prochlorococcus cells
These waters contain an estimated 3 billion billion billion Prochlorococcus cells, collectively weighing as much as 220 million Volkswagen Beetles. That abundance makes the microbe a heavyweight in ocean food webs and climate.
What role does Prochlorococcus play in the ocean ecosystem?
One of the most impressive photosynthesizers is a cyanobacterium called Prochlorococcus. It is estimated to be more abundant than any other photosynthesizer on the planet, and to be responsible for producing 20 percent of the oxygen in the atmosphere.
