Rivularia halophila sp. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria): the first species of Rivularia described with the modern polyphasic approach

SHALYGIN SERGEI; PETRASIAK, NICOLE; GOMEZ, F.J.; MLEWSKI, C; GERARD, E.; JOHANSEN, JEFFREY

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2018

0967-0262

Natural populations of a Rivularia-like cyanobacterium were collected from the carbonate deposits of thetemporarily flooded littoral zone of the hypersaline, high elevation lake, called The Laguna Negra, Andes,Argentina. Subsequently, the cyanobacterial strain PUNA-NP3, named after its locality of origin (PunaVolcanic Plateau) was isolated from these Rivularia-like rounded, pillow-like, black microbial mats.None of the previously described species of the genus Rivularia occupy inland, hypersaline aquaticenvironments. After morphological examination of this strain, we found clear morphologicalautapomorphies, such as mucilaginous pads at the bases of the young trichomes, wider trichomes andfilaments, and uniquely branched trichomes. Furthermore, based on results from 16S rRNA phylogenyFand analysis of the 16S-23S ITS region, PUNA-NP3 was found to be a unique, independent lineage onothe evolutionary tree. Based on the combination of ecological, morphological, and molecular evidence,rwe name strain PUNA-NP3 Rivularia halophila sp. nov., a new species under requirements of theInternational Code of Nomenclature P for Algae, Fungi and Plants.