title: A polyphasic taxonomic approach in isolated strains of Cyanobacteria from thermal springs of Greece.
abstract: Strains of Cyanobacteria isolated from mats of 9 thermal springs of Greece have been studied for their taxonomic evaluation. A polyphasic taxonomic approach was employed which included: morphological observations by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis of 16S rDNA sequences, secondary structural comparisons of 16S-23S rRNA Internal Transcribed Spacer sequences, and finally environmental data. The 17 cyanobacterial isolates formed a diverse group that contained filamentous, coccoid and heterocytous strains. These included representatives of the polyphyletic genera of Synechococcus and Phormidium, and the orders Oscillatoriales, Spirulinales, Chroococcales and Nostocales. After analysis, at least 6 new taxa at the genus level provide new evidence in the taxonomy of Cyanobacteria and highlight the abundant diversity of thermal spring environments with many potential endemic species or ecotypes.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology & Systematics, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece. Electronic address: pbravakos@biol.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bravakos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Hellenic Center for Marine Search, Gournes Pediados, Crete, PO Box 2214, 71003, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kotoulas
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology & Systematics, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece; Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Hellenic Center for Marine Search, Gournes Pediados, Crete, PO Box 2214, 71003, Greece.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skaraki
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology & Systematics, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece.
authors.forename: Adriani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pantazidou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology & Systematics, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece.
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Economou-Amilli
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D006115:Greece; D045482:Hot Springs / Q000382:microbiology*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008853:Microscopy; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Cyanobacteria; Molecular phylogeny; Morphology; Polyphasic taxonomy; Thermal springs; rRNA secondary structures