Trichodesmium sp. – a cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), and is also called whale food, sea scum and, incorrectly, whale sperm.
The sea-sawdust slicks on the water surface in the following images is likely Trichodesmium sp. – a cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), and is also called whale food, sea scum and, incorrectly, whale sperm. Found in nutrient-poor tropical and subtropical ocean waters, Trichodesmium are ‘nitrogen fixers’- they can take nitrogen gas from the air and ‘fix’ it in a form that can be transferred through the food chain. This function is very important as Nitrogen is essential to life and while there is an abundance of it in the air (air is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen), most plants and animals can’t make use of it in that form.
Size: 3992px × 2242px
Location: Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Photo credit: © Andrew McInnes / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: aerial, algae, blue, coastal, cyanobacteria, drone, green, marine, ocean, pacific, plankton, sawdust, sea, teal, trichodesmium, water
