Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 1: Active Matter I (joint session BP/CPP/DY)

CPP 1.8: Talk

Monday, March 9, 2026, 11:45–12:00, BAR/SCHÖ

Quantifying aggregation behaviour of filamentous cyanobacteria — •Elias Illing and Stefan Karpitschka — Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in nature, frequently causing ecological and economic harm by explosive growth, so called blooms.

We investigate the collective dynamics of entangled filamentous cyanobacteria in open liquid media, reminiscent of their aggregates found during later stages of blooms. We investigate the impact of illumination on the clustering and spreading of the bacteria and quantify the morphology of the bacterial aggregates by image analysis. We determine the critical density necessary for initial clustering and track the evolution of the subsequent stages, ranging from stable clusters to spreading mats. These states can be modulated by light intensity variations, potentially allowing for control of the morphological evolution of cyanobacterial aggregates.

Keywords: Cyanobacteria; Active Polymers; Entanglement; Collective Behaviour