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Story: Life in hot springs

Cyanidium cells

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<em>Cyanidium</em> cells

This transmission electron microscope photograph shows Cyanidium cells from Lake Rotokawa. The pale grains within the cells are starch accumulated by the alga, while the darker masses are the chloroplasts where photosynthesis takes place. The cells are ringed by amorphous silica.

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GNS Science, Extremophile Photo Collection

by Kim Handley

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

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How to cite this page

Bruce Mountain, Life in hot springs – Acidophiles, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6464/cyanidium-cells (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bruce Mountain, published 2 March 2009.