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Aphanizomenon is an important genus of cyanobacteria that inhabits freshwater lakes and can cause choking blooms. Studies on the species Aphanizomenon flos-aquae have shown that it can regulate buoyancy through light-induced changes in turgor pressure.1 It is also able to move by means of gliding, though the specific mechanism by which this is possible is not yet known.
Several companies have begun selling dietary supplements containing Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. They are marketed for improving overall health in a number of ways similar to Chlorella and Spirulina, another species of cyanobacteria.
Superfood
It has been suggested that they could be a much more substantial part of human food supplies because of their nutritional content and the speed and abundance at which they can be grown.citation needed These suggestions are usually connected with the idea that at some point either - the amount of rice, grain, and other staples might not be able to sustain the exponential population growth of mankind or - the land required to grow such large quantities of food would be too costly or detrimental to the environment.original research? This view, as well as some other viewpoints, gave rise to the idea of a superfood which Aphanizomenon flos-aquae is sometimes called.citation needed
See also
References
- ^ Konopka, A., T. D. Brock, and A. E. Walsby. 1978. "Buoyancy regulation by planktonic blue-green algae in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin." Arch. Hydrobiol. 83: 524-537.
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