Cyanobacteria Mats

[Don Schaeffer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YCfl3or2ag
There are three types of gathering places for microbes in my mudpuddles: Pieces of decaying vegetation, biofilm constructed by bacteria, and mats of entangled algae and cyanobacteria. The strands in a cyanobacteria mat are large bacteria cells which have a photosynthesis capability joined together in strands. These strands move slowly through the water adjusting their positions vis a vis the light. The mats shelter protists (ciliates and flagellates) and hoards of bacteria as well.