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Story: Life in hot springs

Piece of cyanobacterial mat

Image
Piece of cyanobacterial mat

A portion of microbial mat from Waikite, near Rotorua, growing at a temperature of about 60°C. The top of the mat is composed of a white layer of extracellular polysaccharides. Below this is are orange bacteria, and further below are layers of green cyanobacteria.

Using this item

GNS Science, Extremophile Photo Collection

Reference: DCP_0562

by Duncan Graham

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 – Thermophiles, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6459/piece-of-cyanobacterial-mat (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bruce Mountain, published 2 March 2009.