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

Natural populations of a Rivularia-like cyanobacterium were collected from the carbonate deposits of the temporarily flooded littoral zone of a hypersaline, high elevation lake, The Laguna Negra, Andes, Argentina. Subsequently, the cyanobacterial strain PUNA-NP3, named after its origin (Puna Volcanic 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 aquatic environments. After morphological examination of this strain, we found clear morphological autapomorphies, such as mucilaginous pads at the bases of the young trichomes, wide trichomes and filaments, and uniquely branched trichomes. Furthermore, based on results from 16S rRNA phylogeny and analysis of the 16S-23S ITS region, PUNA-NP3 was found to be an independent lineage of the evolutionary tree. Based on the combination of ecological, morphological and molecular evidence, we name strain PUNA-NP3 Rivularia halophila sp. nov. a new species under requirements of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants.

Fil: Shalygin, Sergei. University of New Mexico; Estados Unidos. John Carroll University; Estados Unidos

Fil: Pietrasiak, Nicole. University of New Mexico; Estados Unidos

Fil: Gomez, Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina

Fil: Mlewski, Estela Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina

Fil: Gerard, Emmanuelle. Institut de Physique Du Globe de Paris; Francia

Fil: Johansen, Jeffrey R.. John Carroll University; Estados Unidos. University of South Bohemia; República Checa