Cyanobacteria in polar regions

Abstract

Velázquez, D., Quesada, A. (2011). Cyanobacteria in polar regions. Ecosistemas 20(1):14-22

The Phylum Cyanobacteria is one of the oldest in the history of Earth. There are evidences that they emerged in the Archean Era and its biological activity has had global consequences. Wide distribution of communities dominated by cyanobacteria in the Cryosphere constitutes a key element in the reconstruction of microbial life during the Precambrian glaciations. They are considered the major phototrophs of polar freshwater ecosystems, forming communities with a certain self-regulatory capacity. Oscilatorial order is the most represented in these kinds of ecosystems, probably due to its wide temperature tolerance. Despite of not being specialists in terms of temperatures near 0 °C, the very low levels of predation and the versatility in coping with inhospitable conditions point them out as one of the most successful organisms of the Cryosphere.