CHARACTERIZATION OF TEN STRAINS OF FILAMENTOUS CYANOBACTERIA FROM THE SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS, MARITIME ANTARCTICA

The evolutionary relationships of ten Antarctic cyanobacterial strains of the order Oscillatoriales isolated from King George Island and Deception Island, South Shetland Islands were studied by a polyphasic approach. Phenotypic observations of the morphological features and genotypic analyses (16S rRNA and ITS sequences) were performed. Based on major phenotypic features, the strains were divided into four distinct morphotypes: Leptolyngbya borchgrevinkii (A), Leptolyngbya frigida (B), Phormidium autumnale (C) and Wilmottia murrayi (D). This morphological identification was in global agreement with the evolutionary relationships. According to the phylogenetic analysis, the ten strains were divided into two major clades, containing related strain sequences with Leptolyngbya morphotypes in one clade and with morphotypes corresponding to Phormidium, Wilmottia and Microcoleus spp. in the other clade. Each major clade was divided into two sub-clades. For the first time, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of a strain corresponding to the Leptolyngbya borchgrevinkii morphotype (A) was determined, on the basis of strain KOVACIK-ANT 1990/4. The closest sequence to our morphotype A is the clone Fr252 isolated from microbial mat of Antarctic Lake Fryxell. Morphotype B is closest to sequences assigned to Leptolyngbya frigida isolated from microbial mats of lakes in continental East Antarctica. Morphotype C belongs to a cluster including strains with morphotypes corresponding to Phormidium autumnale from Antarctica, but also from Europe. Morphotype D is grouped with sequences of the morphotype assigned to Wilmottia murrayi isolated from Antarctica.CCAMBIO, BIPOLES

Polyphasic characterization of 10 selected ecologically relevant filamentous cyanobacterial strains from the South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctica

The evolutionary relationships of 10 Antarctic cyanobacterial strains of the order Oscillatoriales isolated from King George and Deception Islands, South Shetland Islands were studied by a polyphasic approach (morphology, 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer sequences). The studied taxa are characteristic of coastal Antarctic biotopes, where they form distinct populations and ecologically delimited communities. They were isolated from terrestrial habitats: microbial mats in seepages; crusts on soil, rocks, bones and mosses; mud, sometimes close to bird colonies; and from guano. Based on major phenotypic features, the strains were divided into four distinct morphotypes: Leptolyngbya borchgrevinkii (A), Leptolyngbya frigida (B), Microcoleus sp. (C) and Wilmottia murrayi (D). This morphological identification was in agreement with the phylogenetic relationships. For the first time, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of a strain corresponding to the L. borchgrevinkii morphotype was determined. Morphotype B is most related to sequences assigned to L. frigida isolated from microbial mats of coastal lakes in East Antarctica. Morphotype C belongs to a cluster including strains with morphotypes corresponding to Microcoleus attenuatus, Microcoleus favosus and Microcoleus sp., which are from Antarctica and other continents. Morphotype D is grouped with sequences assigned to W. murrayi mostly isolated from Antarctica.Biodiversity of Antarctic cyanobacteri