Oscillatoria willei

Oscillatoria willei is a species of bacteria that is able to photosynthesize to make food, similarly to plants.

Oscillatoria willei
Scientific classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Cyanobacteria
Class: Cyanophyceae
Order: Oscillatoriales
Family: Oscillatoriaceae
Genus: Oscillatoria
Species:
O. willei
Binomial name
Oscillatoria willei
N. L. Gardner

Anatomy

Bacteria of the genus Oscillatoria occur in rows of cells of similar size. They form filaments called trichomes. Many trichomes are enveloped in a firm casing, but in this genus the casing is almost non-existent. This gives the filaments easier mobility in all directions.

Nitrogen fixing ability

This species of Oscillatoria is able to fix nitrogen, but unlike other bacteria, it is uncertain whether or not it has cells specialized for that particular purpose.

Hormogonia

Fragments of filaments of Oscillatoria willei are called hormogonia. They consist of dozens of cells, which sometimes break off to reproduce by establishing new colonies.

Danger to Humans

Like all species of Oscillatoria, this species can cause skin irritation in humans who come in close contact with them in the tropics.[1]

References
  1. Ocean, American Museum of Natural History, 2015


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