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Cyanobacteria: Producers of the World's First Oxygen

Cyanobacteria are a phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis and are the only photosynthetic prokaryotes able to produce oxygen. The name cyanobacteria comes from the color of the bacteria, often blue-green in color.

Cyanobacteria are thought to have produced the world’s first oxygen.  Cyanobacteria today produce 30-40% of the world’s oxygen.  They are also responsible for the first mass extinction of animal life on the planet – the extinction of organisms that required no oxygen to live.  They are among the oldest lifeforms on earth, a whopping 3.5 billion years old.  They gave rise to all oxygen-loving animals and they gave rise to every plant in the world. 


Because of the age of Clear Lake, it is possible that it contains cyanobacteria that have not yet been discovered.

Cyanobacteria are one of the
oldest and ​least understood
organisms on Earth.
Cyanobacteria already identified in Clear Lake include:
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Aphanizomenon


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​Microcystis

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Anabaena


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Gloeotrichia


Many cyanobacteria can make their own nitrogen fertilizer from nitrogen gas in the air.  Cyanobacteria help farmers grow rice without using nitrogen fertilizer.

Scientists are beginning to look at the multitude of molecules produced by cyanobacteria as part of their normal life processes to find a cure for Alzheimer's, cancer and drug-resistant bacteria.  

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Clear Lake Environmental Research Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 47-1489147) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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© 2022 Clear Lake Environmental Research Center, PO Box 636 Lakeport, CA  95453
  • Who We Are
    • About CLERC
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Collaborators
  • What We Do
    • The CLERC Lab >
      • Lab Forms
    • Fire & Forestry >
      • Community Projects >
        • 2019 Fire Prevention Grant
        • 2021 Forest Health Grant
        • Northshore FPD Fuels Crew
        • SLFSC Chipping Program
        • Fox Drive Fire Prevention Project
      • Cost-Share Programs >
        • NBFIP
      • Get Involved >
        • Landowner Contact Form
        • Lake County TREX
    • Hitch Observation Program
  • Resources
    • Blue Ribbon Committee
    • Current Conditions
    • The CLERC Library
  • Connect
    • CLERC News
    • Work With Us
    • Contact Us >
      • Landowner Contact Form
    • Donate