Trichodesmium erythraeum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Cyanobacteria |
Class: | Cyanophyceae |
Order: | Oscillatoriales |
Family: | Microcoleaceae |
Genus: | Trichodesmium |
Species: | T. erythraeum
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Binomial name | |
Trichodesmium erythraeum Ehrenburg ex Gomont
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Trichodesmium erythraeum is a marine cyanobacteria species characterized by its prolific diazotrophic capabilities.[1] They play a dominant role in the ocean ecosystem, supplying a steady and significant source of new, biologically available nitrogen and cycling phosphorus.[2] By nature of its filamentous morphology, T. erythraeum is also known to congregate into large, long colonies, sizeable enough to be seen as sawdust-like particles to the naked eye and pigmented marine regions in satellite images, typically found in oligotrophic tropical and subtropical waters.[3] These blooms are responsible for the famous coloration of the Red Sea.[4]