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Six cyanobacterial isolates recovered from Polynesian microbial mats, called "kopara," were cultured using laboratory-closed photobioreactors and were shown to produce exopolymers as released and capsular exopolysaccharides (EPS). These polymers have been chemically characterized using colorimetric and elemental assays, infrared spectrometry, and gas chromatography. Both capsular and released EPS consisted of 7 to 10 different monosaccharides with neutral sugars predominating. Interestingly, four isolates exhibited sulfate contents ranging from 6% to 19%. On the basis of preliminary data, cyanobacteria from this unusual ecosystem appear to be an important source of novel EPS of a great interest in terms of their biological activities.

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Cyanobacterial populations, the primary producers and builders of 'kopara' microbial mats were studied in four selected ponds along the rim of the Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia using a polyphasic approach. Seven isolates were maintained in uni-cyanobacterial cultures, characterized morphotypically and phylogenetically by evaluating sequences of the 16S rRNA gene of about 620 base pairs in length. Cyanobacteria in natural populations were analyzed microscopically, characterized morphotypically, and compared with cultured strains. Three of the isolates were identified in the field samples: Lyngbya aestuarii, Johannesbaptistia pellucida and Chroococcus submarinus were present in the mats only as minor components, whereas the species of Schizothrix that dominated the mat community could not be cultured. The sequence of Johannesbaptistia pellucida is published for the first time. The phylogenetic and taxonomic relations are discussed on the basis of a reconstructed phylogenetic tree in relation to morphotypic characters. Sequences of Kopara isolates plot separately from those cultured from the lagoon of the neighbouring atoll Tikehau, indicating a narrow niche differentiation of benthic cyanobacterial taxa. The results support the application of a polyphasic approach to characterization, ecology and diversity of cyanobacteria.