Magic Microbial Spheres


Liquid- and agar cultures of cyanobacteria and
algae in a mineral medium
Magic Microbial Spheres
A culture medium for cyanobacteria and algae does not need any organic ingredients. These organisms can carry out photosynthesis and thus produce organic substances. If such a medium is inoculated with a subsample from a microbial mat in tidal flats, bacteria that feed on excretion products of algae and cyanobacteria will develop, too. Often one finds obligate symbioses: Algae and cyanobacteria grow only in the presence of the bacteria. The reasons for this dependence are largely unknown.

Here we report on magic spheres, which are formed by bacteria and irresistably attract cyanobacteria and diatoms.

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