Water-network percolation transition in hydrated blue-green algae in vivo

We found that dc conductivity percolation process typical for low hydrated porous materials shows up in bulk viable blue-green algae, Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (strain Laporte 1963/M-132/2b) at unusually low hydrations, more than an order of magnitude lower than in, e.g., hydrated yeast [D. Sokolowska, A. Krol-Otwinowska, J.K. Moscicki, Phys. Rev. E 70 (2004) 052901]. The critical exponent is characteristic for two-dimensional network. Comparison with results for yeast and other similar materials shows that the hydration percolation threshold is a sensitive indicator of wettability of water accessible surface in porous bio- and abiotic materials.