Genesis of aggregation in benthic and tychoplanctic cyanobacteria under spatially inhomogeneous illumination

Determine the mechanisms that drive the genesis of aggregation in benthic and tychoplanctic filamentous cyanobacteria subjected to spatially inhomogeneous illumination, including the processes and conditions that initiate and sustain the transition from dispersed filaments to dense aggregates at light boundaries.

Background

The paper emphasizes that despite the ecological importance of aggregation (for bloom formation and environmental protection), the mechanisms by which filamentous cyanobacteria aggregate—particularly in environments with spatially varying light—are largely unknown.

Addressing this question is central to understanding how light patterns and filament interactions produce emergent structures, and could inform both ecological models and the design of biomimetic materials.