thermophile

…eubacterial branch consists solely of thermophiles. Both Bacteria and Archaea contain members that are able to grow at very high temperatures, as well as other species that are able to grow at low temperatures. Another prominent difference is that bacteria have widely adapted to aerobic conditions, whereas many archaea are…

…with high concentrations of salt); thermophilic (optimal growth between 60 and 80 °C [140 and 176 °F]); hyperthermophilic (optimal growth above 80 °C [176 °F]); psychrophilic (optimal growth at 15 °C [60 °F] or lower, with a maximum tolerant temperature of 20 °C [68 °F] and minimal growth at or…

…hot springs are caused by thermophilic (heat-loving) microorganisms, which include certain types of bacteria, such as cyanobacteria, and species of archaea and algae. Many thermophilic organisms grow in huge colonies called mats that form the colourful scums and slimes on the sides of hot springs. The microorganisms that grow in…

…are the many varieties of thermophiles (heat-tolerant extremophiles) that thrive in the park’s hydrothermal features and are responsible for many of their distinctive colors. Prokaryotic types—e.g., varieties of algae and bacteria—can be found in such features as Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs, respectively. Thermophilic archaea—which can survive in…