filament portrait

Description :

Beggiatoa (beg-ee-a-toe-a) is a colourless sulphur bacterium which occurs as filaments of various widths. Beggiatoa is found in sediments above the reduced zone. It oxidizes hydrogen sulphide, producing elemental sulphur which is deposited within the bacterial cell as sulphur granules and give this filament its opaque appearance. Layers of Beggiatoa are often seen on the surface of muds or other places where there is a lot of decaying organic matter (around dead dogs is a good place) and looks like white tissue paper lying over the sediment. These cells can glide, a good trait for organisms which live in a habitat the characteristics of which are changing depending on whether there is or is not overlying water or if or if not there is sunlight. Phase contrast.