Trichodesmium is a type of cyanobacteria that is commonly found in the world’s oceans. Recently, a team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego, have discovered a new process by which the filaments of Trichodesmium interact and form aggregates.

The team found that the movement of the filaments is driven by the production of gas vesicles, which act like tiny balloons and lift the filaments up into the water column. The gas vesicles also cause the filaments to move in a circular motion, which brings them into contact with each other and leads to the formation of aggregates.

The researchers believe this process of filament movement and aggregation could play an important role in the survival of Trichodesmium in the ocean. The aggregates created by this process could help the bacteria survive harsh environmental conditions, such as changes in temperature, salinity, and nutrient availability.

This new discovery could help us better understand how Trichodesmium interacts with its environment and how it is able to survive in a changing ocean. It could also lead to new ways of managing Trichodesmium populations in the future.

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source: Phys.org