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Glite Dictionary
Beggiatoa

Beggiatoa

9.9
A kind of bacteria that lives in water and uses sulfur compounds
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
: Beggiatoa
  • Sulfur bacteria range from complex filamentous Beggiatoa and Thiothrix species to the rod-shaped Thiobacillus species.

Examples

  • (n45) Mats of a bacterial mold (Beggiatoa) form, indicating that the organic matter is decomposing without oxygen.

    Academic text (1999)

  • In aquatic environments, Beggiatoa can be found among other sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

  • Researchers studied the behavior of Beggiatoa in response to changes in sulfur levels in the water.

  • Sampled water from the lake showed the presence of Beggiatoa, indicating high sulfur concentrations.

Surface Forms

Beggiatoa main

Etymology

The word Beggiatoa is a scientific name taken from a researcher's last name, because many bacteria are named after people. A helpful way to remember it is to think of it as a person's name for long, thread-like bacteria that live where the water has a lot of sulfur, which is why today it refers to bacteria that process sulfur in aquatic places.