Lake Kinneret phytoplankton: integrating classical and molecular taxonomy

Abstract

The Kinneret phytoplankton biodiversity has been monitored on a regular basis since 1969, with the taxonomic information stored as a digital online catalog (http://kinneret.ocean.org.il/phyt_cat_listView. aspx) containing photographs and morphological descriptions. Our aim was to upgrade this ID tool by adding to it a consensus DNA sequence as a species identifier-DNA barcode. A two-gene system approach was applied, sequencing DNA fragments from the Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase large subunit (rbcL) and the rRNA small subunit and intragenic space (SSU-ITS). Today, 72 species isolated from Lake Kinneret, are at different stages of processing. The barcoding process was completed for 26 of those. Barcoding has enabled us to support current nomenclature, clarify the taxonomic names of species whose identification was previously inconclusive, classify to species level taxa previously identified to genus only, discover species new to the lake, and update current nomenclature. The construction of the DNA barcode database stands as the first brick of knowledge upon which further experimental work can be conducted, enabling fast and accurate identification of the Kinneret phytoplankton.

Polyphasic taxonomy of green algae strains isolated from Mediterranean freshwaters

“…The alignment of these sequences with 3410 showed identity up to 99%. The rbcL -based phylogeny supports the previous results, since 3410 clustered together with a Scenedesmus quadricauda sequence [47] probably belonging to a non-revised D. communis [45]. Under light microscopy, TAU-MAC 3410 displayed the common structure of the species [46, 48].…”

“…In the 18S rRNA and ITS phylogeny all sequences that clustered together into well-supported clades with the strain TAU-MAC 3410 are Desmodesmus communis [also known with the traditional name Scenedesmus quadricauda Turp. (Bréb)], isolated from Europe to Asia [45, 46]. The alignment of these sequences with 3410 showed identity up to 99%.…”

Morphology, molecular phylogeny and biomass evaluation of Desmodesmus abundans (Scenedesmaceae-Chlorophyceae) from Brazil

“…For phylogenetic analyzes, only the most reliable sequences from ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions available at Genbank for the genus Desmodesmus were selected, prioritizing sequences mainly used in identification articles (An et al, 1999;Hegewald, 2000;Vanormelingen et al, 2007;Fawley et al, 2011;Fawley et al, 2013;Kaplan-Levy et al, 2016;Hegewald and Braband, 2017). Among them, sequences from identified strains collections such as Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP), Culture Collection of Algae (SAG), and Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Texas at Austin (UTEX) were used.…”

Genome Sequences of Two Cyanobacterial Strains, Toxic Green Microcystis aeruginosa KW (KCTC 18162P) and Nontoxic Brown Microcystis sp. Strain MC19, under Xenic Culture Conditions

“… Microcystis spp., representative bloom-forming cyanobacteria, can be divided into toxic and nontoxic strains, depending on the possession of an mcy gene cluster. Although most Microcystis strains commonly show a green color, brown Microcystis strains have been infrequently isolated from China, Thailand, and Israel ( 1 , 2 ) . The toxic green Microcystis sp.…”