Cyanophyte, also known as blue-green algae, is a type of bacteria that carries out photosynthesis. There are several synonyms for cyanophyte, including cyanobacteria, blue-green bacteria, and blue-green algae. These names are often used interchangeably, although cyanobacteria is more commonly used in scientific literature. Other synonyms for cyanophyte include cyanoprokaryotes, which highlights the fact that they are single-celled organisms without a true nucleus, and prochlorophytes, which refers to a related group of bacteria that carry out photosynthesis using a different pigment. Understanding these synonyms is important when studying the ecology of aquatic environments, where cyanophytes are often significant players in the food web.