Chamaesiphon species in soft-water streams in Germany: occurrence, ecology and use for bioindication

Gutowski, Antje; Foerster, Julia; Doege, Angela; Paul, Markus

doi:10.1127/algol_stud/2015/0220

Cited by 5 publications

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“…Previous studies of the Guadalix River also showed high phosphatase activity of Chamaesiphon populations at Site 1 in relation to low bioavailable P at this location (Muñoz‐Martín et al, ). Bands of phylotype II, ascribed to C. subglobosus , were comparably rare, as has been described with respect to the occurrence of populations of this species in German rivers (Gutowski, Foerster, Doege, & Paul, ). Therefore, banding patterns and phylogenetic analysis showed that dominant species of Chamaesiphon were replaced by other species at some sampling sites.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

“…Chamaesiphon species are used to assess the ecological quality of streams and rivers according to the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). In a recent study, Gutowski et al () analyzed the records of several species of Chamaesiphon from 429 sampling sites over 6 years, concluding that among others, C. fuscus and C. starmachii occur at significantly lower nutrient levels and are therefore characteristic of unimpaired sites, whereas C. polymorphus prefers nutrient‐rich sites. Other studies showed similar patterns of occurrence (Mateo et al, , and references therein), although Stancheva, Fetscher, and Sheath () found C. polymorphus to be associated with low total nitrogen in streams of California, and Fetscher et al () further evaluated this species as indicator of low total phosphorus in the development of indices of biotic integrity for stream bioassessment in southern California.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fingerprinting Chamaesiphon populations as an approach to assess the quality of running waters

Loza

Morales

Perona

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

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Cyanobacterial communities are highly diverse in freshwaters and respond rapidly to changing environments. Previous studies have highlighted variations in the structure and composition of epilithic cyanobacterial communities in response to eutrophication in watercourses. In the present study, changes in benthic cyanobacterial communities from Guadalix River (Spain) biofilms were examined using temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) in conjunction with microscopic examination of field-fixed samples, focusing on populations of one of the dominant cyanobacteria:Chamaesiphon. Environmental characteristics were determined in order to characterize the trophic status of the sampling sites. The presence of cyanobacteria in the river was determined from complex TGGE patterns, band extraction, and subsequent sequencing of 16S rDNA gene fragments. The microscopic observations revealed that the unicellular genus Chamaesiphon and the filamentous genus Phormidium were dominant in the studied locations. Within the 2 genera, 4 Chamaesiphon populations were identified (Chamaesiphon fuscus, Chamaesiphon starmachii, Chamaesiphon subglobosus, and Chamaesiphon polymorphus) and Phormidium was represented at the sampling sites by the Phormidium autumnale morphotype. TGGE banding patterns differed among samplings sites as a function of water quality. The genetic analysis revealed 4 phylotypes within the genus Chamaesiphon and 1 phylotype within the classic P. autumnale clade. Chamaesiphon phylotypes were not equally distributed in all the sampling locations. Some phylotypes were related to low nutrient concentrations, while others were associated with eutrophic conditions. Our results support the use of fingerprints of Chamaesiphon populations obtained by TGGE to examine changes in water quality.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fingerprinting Chamaesiphon populations as an approach to assess the quality of running waters

Loza

Morales

Perona

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

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“…The cyanobacterial morphogenus Chamaesiphon represents one of the most widespread taxa forming thin biofilms in mountain rivers worldwide (e.g., Bürgi et al, 2003; Rott et al, 2006; Rott, 2008; Sant’Anna et al, 2011; Scott & Marcarelli, 2012; Gutowski et al, 2015). Several Chamaesiphon species can cover up to >70% of the wetted perimeter in clear mountain streams (Rott & Wehr, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single colony genetic analysis of epilithic stream algae of the genus Chamaesiphon spp.

et al. 2017

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In order to understand Chamaesiphon spp. evolution and ecological diversification, we investigated the phylogenetic differentiation of three morphospecies from field samples by means of single colony genetics. Individual colonies of three different morphospecies (C. starmachii, C. polonicus, C. geitleri,) were isolated from lotic gravel streams and their 16S rDNA nucleotide variability was analyzed. For a number of individual colonies, microscopical and ultrastructural analysis was also performed. A phylogenetic tree of all major lineages of the phylum of Cyanobacteria assigned all Chamaesiphon genotypes (1149–1176 bp) most closely with the family of Gomontiellaceae of the order Oscillatoriales. The sequences obtained from colonies assigned to C. starmachii (n = 21), C. polonicus (n = 9), and C. geitleri (n = 17) were found to reveal high average (3.5%) nucleotide diversity. No phylogenetic sub-branching in correspondence with morphology was observed suggesting that the three Chamaesiphon morphospecies did not represent monophyletic taxa. We could not attribute specific thylakoid ultrastructure to phylogenetic sub-branches; however, the observed parietally and loosely arranged thylakoids indicate that for the genus Chamaesiphon, the variability in thylakoid ultrastructure might have been underestimated. In summary, the high nucleotide diversity of the 16S rDNA gene implies phylogenetic diversity that corresponds little to morphological classification.

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“…Due to the obviously different environmental requirements of various Chamaesiphon species, they are used for water quality assessment and bioindication in the frame of the so-called Periphyton Index of Trophic Status (PIT), which is a eutrophication metric for Nordic rivers (Schneider and Lindstrom 2011). In addition, Gutkowski et al (2015) monitored between 2006 and 2012 > 400 sampling sites in soft-water streams in Germany and recorded 12 different Chamaesiphon species, of which the distribution was highly correlated with geochemical properties of the stream water followed by nutrient parameters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epilithic Chamaesiphon (Synechococcales, Cyanobacteria) species in mountain streams of the Alps—interspecific differences in photo-physiological traits

et al. 2017

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Many alpine streams inhabit conspicuous epilithic biofilms on pebbles and rocks that are formed by members of the cyanobacterial genus Chamaesiphon (Synechococcales). In the Austrian Alps, some Chamaesiphon species can even overgrow up to 70% of the surface of river rocks, and hence they must play an important but still unstudied ecological role in the organic matter flux. Since photo-biological traits have not been investigated so far, photosynthetic features, pigments, and UV-sunscreen compounds were studied in three Chamaesiphon morphospecies (C. geitleri, C. polonicus, C. starmachii). These species form conspicuously differently colored spots on cobbles and boulders in the alpine streams. While C. polonicus typically forms red crusts on flat pebble conglomerate, C. geitleri and C. starmachii are characterized by dark brown and black biofilms in the field, respectively. Photosynthesis-irradiance (PE) curves indicate that all three Chamaesiphon species have different light requirements for photosynthesis, with C. starmachii and C. polonicus preferring high and low photon fluence rates, respectively, while C. geitleri takes a position in between. This low-light requirement of C. polonicus is also reflected in ca. ten-times lower chlorophyll a, zeaxanthin, and ß-carotene concentrations, as well as in a lack of the UV-sunscreen scytonemin. All Chamaesiphon morphospecies exhibit the mycosporine-like amino acid porphyra-334. The physiological and biochemical data indicate strong intraspecific differences in photosynthetic activity and pigment patterns, which explain well the distinct preferences of the three studied Chamaesiphon morphospecies for sun-exposed or shaded habitats.

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Chamaesiphon species in soft-water streams in Germany: occurrence, ecology and use for bioindication

Cited by 5 publications

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Fingerprinting Chamaesiphon populations as an approach to assess the quality of running waters

Fingerprinting Chamaesiphon populations as an approach to assess the quality of running waters

Single colony genetic analysis of epilithic stream algae of the genus Chamaesiphon spp.

Epilithic Chamaesiphon (Synechococcales, Cyanobacteria) species in mountain streams of the Alps—interspecific differences in photo-physiological traits

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