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Alga and Oxygen
Name: Natalie
Status: student
Grade: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
In the beginning, did algae of any kind play any role in
the development of our breathable atmosphere?
Replies:
Dear Natalie,
Some type of photosynthetic organism was involved in the production of oxygen.
http://koning.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/Plants_Human/whyplants.html
Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.
The early oxygen-producers are thought to be cyanobacteria, sometimes known
as blue-green algae. They are agtually bacteria, not true algae, but they
fill much the same niche as algae. It's probably more accurate to call them
"blue-green pond scum" than "blue green algae."
Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Most were probably cyanobacteria-like bacteria that could photosynthesize.
Steve Sample
Current belief is that the first cells were heterotrophic (could not make
their own food) and that autotrophs (photosynthesizers) came later. Some of
the evidence for this is the lack of oxide containing rock in the oldest
dated rocks. Since single celled organisms came before multi-celled ones,
that leaves algae as the organisms that seem to have supplied the atmosphere
with oxygen.
Van Hoeck
The early oxygen-producers are thought to be cyanobacteria, sometimes known
as blue-green algae. They are agtually bacteria, not true algae, but they
fill much the same niche as algae. It's probably more accurate to call them
"blue-green pond scum" than "blue green algae."
Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Dear Natalie,
Some type of photosynthetic organism was involved in the production of oxygen.
http://koning.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/Plants_Human/whyplants.html
Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.
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Update: June 2012
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