Recent research reveals that Prochlorococcus, a dominant photosynthetic marine bacteria, may be interconnected by nanotube networks. Initially viewed as solitary cells, studies show these bacteria can communicate and share nutrients across distances. Surprisingly, nanostructures have been identified linking Prochlorococcus to neighboring Synechococcus cells, suggesting a more complex ecosystem. This discovery shifts our understanding of microbial interactions in the ocean, indicating that these vast populations may operate in a highly coordinated manner, challenging previous assumptions of isolation among microbial life.
"We realized the cyanobacteria were connected to each other," said María del Carmen Muñoz-Marín, pointing out the discovery of bacterial nanotubes linking Prochlorococcus cells.
The ocean is filled with Prochlorococcus bacteria, vital for Earth's oxygen supply, now discovered to interconnect through nanostructures, enhancing nutrient exchange.
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