The Extremophile Endolithella mcmurdoensis gen. et sp. nov. (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorellaceae), A New Chlorella-like Endolithic Alga From Antarctica.

The McMurdo Dry Valleys constitute the largest ice-free region of Antarctica and one of the most extreme deserts on Earth. Despite the low temperatures, dry and poor soils and katabatic winds, some microbes are able to take advantage of endolithic microenvironments, inhabiting the pore spaces of soil and constituting photosynthesis-based communities. We isolated a green microalga, Endolithella mcmurdoensis gen.

Chlorella: 125 years of the green survivalist.

Chlorella, the archetype of unicellular green algae, is a high-performance primary producer in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Under the simple spherical morphology of Chlorella, many other 'green balls' unfolded as independent phylogenetic lineages as a result of convergent evolution. By contrast, green algae with strikingly different phenotypes were unmasked as close relatives of Chlorella by modern molecular techniques.

Presence of potential toxin-producing cyanobacteria in an oligo-mesotrophic lake in Baltic Lake District, Germany: an ecological, genetic and toxicological survey.

Massive developments of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in Lake Stechlin, an oligo-mesotrophic lake in the Baltic Lake District of Germany raised concerns about toxic contamination of these important ecosystems. Field samples in the phase of mass developments of cyanobacteria were used for genetic and toxicological analyses. Microcystins and microcystin genes were detected in field samples of the lake for the first time.

Cyanobacterial diversity in the hot spring, pelagic and benthic habitats of a tropical soda lake.

Hot springs and saline-alkaline lakes of East Africa are extreme habitats regarding temperature, or salinity and pH, respectively. This study examines whether divergent habitats of Lake Bogoria, Kenya, impacts cyanobacterial community structure. Samples from the hot springs, pelagic zone and sediment were analysed by light microscopy, multilocus 454-amplicons sequencing and metagenomics to compare the cyanobacterial diversity.

Classification of crucigenoid algae: phylogenetic position of the reinstated genus Lemmermannia, Tetrastrum spp. Crucigenia tetrapedia, and C. lauterbornii (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta)(1).

The subfamily Crucigenioideae was traditionally classified within the well-characterized family Scenedesmaceae (Chlorophyceae). Several morpho-logical revisions and questionable taxonomic changes hampered the correct classification of crucigenoid species resulting in a high number of synonymous genera. We used a molecular approach to determine the phylogenetic position of several Tetrastrum and Crucigenia species.

Amino acid neurotoxins in feathers of the Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor.

The Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) is known to use cyanobacteria (primarily Arthrospira) as a major food source in the East African Rift Valley lakes. Periodically, mass mortalities have occurred, associated with the cyanobacterial toxins (cyanotoxins), microcystins and anatoxin-a. Deposition of these cyanotoxins into P.

SSU rRNA GENE PHYLOGENY OF MORPHOSPECIES AFFILIATED TO THE BIOASSAY ALGA "SELENASTRUM CAPRICORNUTUM" RECOVERED THE POLYPHYLETIC ORIGIN OF CRESCENT-SHAPED CHLOROPHYTA(1).

The generic concept of coccoid green algae exhibiting a crescent-shaped morphotype is evaluated using SSU rRNA gene sequence analyses and light and electron microscopical observations. These common chlorophytes evolved polyphyletically in 10 different clades of the Chlorophyceae and three clades of the Trebouxiophyceae. Six clades are assigned to known genera of Selenastraceae: Kirchneriella, Nephrochlamys, Raphidocelis, Rhombocystis, Selenastrum, and Tetranephris.

UPDATING THE GENUS DICTYOSPHAERIUM AND DESCRIPTION OF MUCIDOSPHAERIUM GEN. NOV. (TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE) BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR DATA.

Recent molecular analyses of Dictyosphaerium strains revealed a polyphyletic origin of this morphotype within the Chlorellaceae. The type species Dictyosphaerium ehrenbergianum Nägeli formed an independent lineage within the Parachlorella clade, assigning the genus to this clade. Our study focused on three different Dictyosphaerium species to resolve the phylogenetic position of remaining species.

The systematics of Zoochlorella revisited employing an integrative approach.

Symbiosis of green algae with protozoa and invertebrates has been studied for more than 100 years. Endosymbiotic green algae are widely distributed in ciliates (e.g.

Generic concept in Chlorella-related coccoid green algae (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae).

Using a combined set of sequences of SSU and ITS regions of nuclear-encoded ribosomal DNA, the concept of the experimental algal genus Chlorella was evaluated. Conventionally in the genus Chlorella, only coccoid, solitary algae with spherical morphology that do not possess any mucilaginous envelope were included. All Chlorella species reproduce asexually by autospores.

TAXONOMIC REEXAMINATION OF CHARA GLOBULARIS (CHARALES, CHAROPHYCEAE) FROM JAPAN BASED ON OOSPORE MORPHOLOGY AND rbcL GENE SEQUENCES, AND THE DESCRIPTION OF C. LEPTOSPORA SP. NOV.(1).

Chara globularis Thuillier (=f. globularis sensu R. D.

Molecular detection of uncultured cyanobacteria and aminotransferase domains for cyanotoxin production in sediments of different Kenyan lakes.

PCR-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments was used to identify the cyanobacterial phylotypes in sediments and plankton of saline-alkaline and freshwater lakes of Kenya. The detection of the aminotransferase domain located on modules mcyE and ndaF using specific molecular markers confirmed the presence of potential toxin-producing cyanobacteria. The eight nucleotide sequences obtained from DGGE bands were placed in three divergent cyanobacterial clusters.

Morphological and phylogenetic analysis of Anabaenopsis abijatae and Anabaenopsis elenkinii (nostocales, cyanobacteria) from tropical inland water bodies.

Anabaenopsis spp. are heterocytous cyanobacteria commonly found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate water bodies. So far, the knowledge about the phylogeny of this genus is poor.

Genotype versus phenotype variability in Chlorella and Micractinium (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae).

The most recent revision of the genus Chlorella, based on biochemical and SSU rDNA analyses, suggested a reduction to a set of four "true" spherical Chlorella species, while a growing number of morphologically different species such as Micractinium (formerly Micractiniaceae) were found to cluster within the clade of "true"Chlorella. In this study, the generic concept in Chlorellaceae to Chlorella and Micractinium was evaluated by means of combined SSU and ITS-2 rDNA sequence analyses and biotests to induce development of bristles on the cell wall. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of Chlorella and Micractinium strains confirmed their separation into two different genera.

Toxic cyanobacteria and their toxins in standing waters of Kenya: implications for water resource use.

Phytoplankton biodiversity studies in Kenya's standing waters were carried out between 2001 and 2003. Toxin producing cyanobacteria were recorded in twelve water bodies. Microcystis and Anabaena were the most common species in freshwaters while Anabaena and Anabaenopsis were common in alkaline saline lakes.

Contribution of hot spring cyanobacteria to the mysterious deaths of Lesser Flamingos at Lake Bogoria, Kenya.

Cyanobacterial mats at hot springs on the shore of the alkaline Lake Bogoria, Kenya, were investigated regarding species community and cyanobacterial toxin content. The hepatotoxins microcystin-LR, -RR, -LF and -YR, and the neurotoxin anatoxin-a were present. The mats were dominated by Phormidium terebriformis, Oscillatoria willei, Spirulina subsalsa and Synechococcus bigranulatus.

Hyaloraphidium curvatum is not a green alga, but a lower fungus; Amoebidium parasiticum is not a fungus, but a member of the DRIPs.

The unicellular heterotrophic protist Hyaloraphidium is classified with a family of green algae, the Ankistrodesmaceae. The only species that exists in pure culture and that is available for taxonomic studies is H. curvatum.

PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF THE OOCYSTACEAE (CHLOROPHYTA).

The complete 18S rRNA gene sequences of three Oocystis A. Braun species (Oocystaceae) and three other chlorococcal algae, Tetrachlorella alternans (G. M.

Phylogenetic position of the Phacotaceae within the Chlamydophyceaeas revealed by analysis of 18S rDNA and rbcL sequences.

Four genera of the Phacotaceae (Phacotus, Pteromonas, Wislouchiella, Dysmorphococcus), a family of loricated green algal flagellates within the Volvocales, were investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy and analysis of the nuclear encoded small-subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) genes and the plastid-encoded rbcL genes. Additionally, the 18S rDNA of Haematococcus pluvialis and the rbcL sequences of Chlorogonium elongatum, C. euchlorum, Dunaliella parva, Chloromonas serbinowii, Chlamydomonas radiata, and C.