Original paper
Review of the cyanobacterial genus Eucapsis
Komárek, Jiří; Hindák, František; Jezberová, Jitka
Nova Hedwigia Band 103 Heft 3-4 (2016), p. 441 - 456
published: Nov 1, 2016
DOI: 10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2016/0363
ArtNo. ESP050010303009, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Cells of the non-filamentous cyanobacterial genus Eucapsis Clements et Shantz divide regularly in three perpendicular planes in subsequent generations and this process influences the final form of the ± cubic colonies. Two species, E. alpina and E. minor, were mainly presented in the traditional system, but in the last three decades other species were studied which had some irregularities in their colonies, but had the same type of cell structure and division. In spite of the shifted position of cells in the colonies, few molecular analyses supported their relation to Eucapsis. At present, over 15 taxa correspond to this cluster (genus). According to recent indications, including few molecular sequences and cell structure, the genus Eucapsis was revised. It is related to the family Merismopediaceae. The most related genera are Synechocystis and Limnococcus, but their cells do not divide regularly in three planes. Many morphospecies of the genus Eucapsis have distinct ecologies which can be used for characterization of communities in special habitats. The modern review of this corrected and modified genus has not yet been summarized, therefore a short review is presented here.
Keywords
limnococcus • distribution • new species • taxonomic review • ecology • merismopediaceae • new combinations • eucapsis