New Taxa for the Flora of Ukraine, in the Context of Modern Approaches to Taxonomy of Cyanoprokaryota/Cyanobacteria

Roholtiella volcanica sp. nov., a New Species of Cyanobacteria from Kamchatkan Volcanic Soils

During a study of biodiversity of cyanobacteria in Gorely volcano soils (Kamchatka Peninsula), a strain of heterocytous, a false branching cyanobacterium with gradually tapered filaments, was isolated. Prominent features of the strain were purplish-grey trichomes and firm, distinct multilayered sheaths. Based on the results obtained from the morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA and 16S–23S ITS region, 16S–23S ITS secondary structure analysis, comparison of flanking regions of BoxB and V3 helices, and the p-distance between the 16S–23S ITS region, we describe our strain K7 as a novel species of the genus Roholtiella with the name Roholtiella volcanica sp. nov., in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. This work continues the rapid expansion of the description of new taxa of cyanobacteria, and particularly demonstrates a coming phase in cyanobacterial taxonomy in which the discovery of new species in recently described genera rapidly increases our understanding of the diversity in this phylum.

Timaviella dunensis sp. nov. from sand dunes of the Baltic Sea, Germany, and emendation of Timaviella edaphica (Elenkin) O.M. Vynogr. & Mikhailyuk (Synechococcales, Cyanobacteria) based on an integrative approach

Timaviella Sciuto & Moro is a recently established cryptic genus of cyanobacteria separated from the morphologically close Leptolyngbya due to clear differences in the 16S rRNA gene sequence and the 16S-23S ITS region secondary structure. Conducting research on biological soil crusts in coastal ecotopes of Ukraine and Germany, we repeatedly observed thin filamentous cyanobacteria morphologically corresponding to the common terrestrial species Leptolyngbya edaphica (Elenkin) Anagnostidis & Komárek. Molecular data based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison of the original strains of the morphospecies indicated unambiguous assignment to the genus Timaviella. Based on this finding, we proposed the new nomenclatural combination Timaviella edaphica (Elenkin) O.M. Vynogr. & Mikhailyuk in our previous publication. Deeper molecular study of the four original strains which were morphologically identified as T. edaphica based on the 16S rRNA gene concatenated with the 16S-23S ITS region and 16S-23S ITS secondary structure analysis showed that they are not identical. Three of them (isolated from biocrusts of Black Sea coast and forest path near Kyiv, Ukraine) had high similarity both in 16S rRNA (99.7-100%) and 16S-23S ITS (99.8-100%) hence actually representing T. edaphica. The strain Us-6-3 isolated from biocrusts on sand dunes of Usedom Island in the Baltic Sea, Germany, differs both from original strains of T. edaphica and all published Timaviella species in 16S rRNA gene sequence identity, as well as in sequence and structure of the 16S-23S ITS region. Here we describe Timaviella dunensis sp. nov. and give an expanded description of T. edaphica based on morphological and molecular features. A tabular review of Timaviella species with data on their phenotypic and genotypic features, ecology and distribution is included.

Emendation of the Coccoid Cyanobacterial Genus Gloeocapsopsis and Description of the New Species Gloeocapsopsis diffluens sp. nov. and Gloeocapsopsis dulcis sp. nov. Isolated From the Coastal Range of the Atacama Desert (Chile)

The taxonomy of coccoid cyanobacteria, such as Chroococcidiopsis, Pleurocapsa, Chroococcus, Gloeothece, Gloeocapsa, Gloeocapsopsis, and the related recent genera Sinocapsa and Aliterella, can easily be intermixed when solely compared on a morphological basis. There is still little support on the taxonomic position of some of the addressed genera, as genetic information is available only for a fraction of species that have been described solely on morphology. Modern polyphasic approaches that combine classic morphological investigations with DNA-based molecular analyses and the evaluation of ecological properties can disentangle these easily confusable unicellular genera. By using such an approach, we present here the formal description of two novel unicellular cyanobacterial species that inhabit the Coastal Range of the Atacama Desert, Gloeocapsopsis dulcis (first reported as Gloeocapsopsis AAB1) and Gloeocapsopsis diffluens. Both species could be clearly separated from previously reported species by 16S rRNA and 16S–23S ITS gene sequencing, the resulting secondary structures, p-distance analyses of the 16S–23S ITS, and morphology. For avoiding further confusions emendation of the genus Gloeocapsopsis as well as epitypification of the type species Gloeocapsopsis crepidinum based on the strain LEGE06123 were conducted.

Symphyonema bifilamentata sp. nov., the Right Fischerella ambigua 108b: Half a Decade of Research on Taxonomy and Bioactive Compounds in New Light

Since 1965 a cyanobacterial strain termed 'Fischerella ambigua 108b' was the object of several studies investigating its potential as a resource for new bioactive compounds in several European institutes. Over decades these investigations uncovered several unique small molecules and their respective biosynthetic pathways, including the polychlorinated triphenyls of the ambigol family and the tjipanazoles. However, the true taxonomic character of the producing strain remained concealed until now. Applying a polyphasic approach considering the phylogenetic position based on the 16S rRNA and the protein coding gene rbcLX, secondary structures and morphological features, we present the strain 'Fischerella ambigua 108b' as Symphyonema bifilamentata sp. nov. 97.28. Although there is the type species (holotype) S. sinense C.-C. Jao 1944 there is no authentic living strain or material for genetic analyses for the genus Symphyonema available. Thus we suggest and provide an epitypification of S. bifilamentata sp. nov. 97.28 as a valid reference for the genus Symphyonema. Its affiliation to the family Symphyonemataceae sheds not only new light on this rare taxon but also on the classes of bioactive metabolites of these heterocytous and true-branching cyanobacteria which we report here. We show conclusively that the literature on the isolation of bioactive products from this organism provides further support for a clear distinction between the secondary metabolism of Symphyonema bifilamentata sp. nov. 97.28 compared to related and other taxa, pointing to the assignment of this organism into a separate genus.

Shifting Boundaries: Ecological and Geographical Range extension Based on Three New Species in the Cyanobacterial Genera Cyanocohniella, Oculatella, and, Aliterella

The polyphasic approach has been widely applied in cyanobacterial taxonomy, which frequently led to additions to the species inventory. Increasing our knowledge about species and the habitats they were isolated from enables new insights into the ecology of newly established genera and species allowing speculations about the ecological niche of taxa. Here, we are describing three new species belonging to three genera that broadens the ecological amplitude and the geographical range of each of the three genera. Cyanocohniella crotaloides sp. nov. is described from sandy beach mats of the temperate island Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands, Oculatella crustae-formantes sp. nov. was isolated from biological soil crusts of the Arctic Spitsbergen, Norway, and Aliterella chasmolithica originated from granitic stones of the arid Atacama Desert, Chile. All three species could be separated from related species using molecular sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S ITS gene region, the resulting secondary structures as well as p-distance analyses of the 16S-23S ITS and various microscopic techniques. The novel taxa described in this study contribute to a better understanding of the diversity of the genera Cyanocohniella, Oculatella, and Aliterella in different habitats.

New record of the rare genus Crinalium Crow (Oscillatoriales, Cyanobacteria) from sand dunes of the Baltic Sea, Germany: epitypification and emendation of Crinalium magnum Fritsch et John based on an integrative approach

Representatives of the Gomontiellaceae (Oscillatoriales) are rare and hence unstudied cyanobacteria with unusual morphology, distributed in terrestrial and aquatic habitats all over the world. Investigation of the group based on an integrative approach is only beginning, and to understand the actual biodiversity and ecology, a greater number of cultivated strains is necessary. However, some ecological traits of these cyanobacteria (e.g. low population densities, the absence of conspicuous growth in nature) led to methodological difficulties during isolation in culture. One species in the family Gomontiellaceae, Crinalium magnum Fritsch et John, is characterized by prominent wide and flattened trichomes, and represented by the non-authentic strain SAG 34.87. Detailed previous investigation of this strain clearly showed its morphological discrepancy with the original description of C. magnum and the genus Crinalium in general. The new isolate from maritime sand dunes of the Baltic Sea coast (Germany), however, revealed morphological characters completely corresponding with the diagnosis of C. magnum. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences indicated a position of the new strain inside Gomontiellaceae. Both morphology and ultrastructure of the strain are congruous with characters of the family. Epitypification and emendation of C. magnum are proposed since the ecology and habitat of the original strain are congruent with the type locality of this rare species (sand, Irish Sea coast, North Wales, UK). We expanded the description of C. magnum by details of the filament development and specified dimensional ranges for trichomes and cells, as well as by new data about the transversely striated structure of mucilaginous sheath.