Story: Life in hot springs

Tokaanu geyser surrounded by bacteria

Tokaanu geyser surrounded by bacteria

This geyser at Tokaanu shows how the growth of thermophilic organisms is dependent on temperature. The bright orange and green patches are cyanobacteria living in the splash zone and outflow of the geyser. The orange cyanobacteria grow best in a ring around the geyser, while the green cyanobacteria grow in the much cooler outflow.

Using this item

GNS Science, Extremophile photo collection
Reference: DCP_0661
Photograph by Duncan Graham

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Bruce Mountain, 'Life in hot springs - Thermophiles', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6460/tokaanu-geyser-surrounded-by-bacteria (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Bruce Mountain, published 12 Jun 2006