Rope-building Cyanobacteria (IMAGE) Arizona State University Caption Sandy desert soil from the Colorado Plateau is colonized by pioneering Microcoleus vaginatus (left). This is a microscopic view of ropes built in culture by Microcoleus chthonoplastes from a marine intertidal mat (right). Credit Arizona State University Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.