trichodesmium
/ˌtrɪkoʊˈdɛzmiəm/
noun
- A genus of marine cyanobacteria that forms large, visible colonies in tropical and subtropical oceans, often called sea sawdust; important for nitrogen fixation.
- Sailors sometimes call trichodesmium 'sea sawdust' because of its appearance.
- Trichodesmium blooms can turn the ocean surface a reddish-brown color.
- Trichodesmium plays a key role in the ocean's nitrogen cycle by converting nitrogen gas into a usable form.