A new cyanobacterium species Stigonema lichenoides Patova, Novakovskaya, Shalygin et Shadrin, sp. nov., a photobiont of the cyanolichen Ephebe lanata, has been described. The samples were collected from rocky substrates in the mountain tundra of the Northern Urals. A detailed morphological description is given and differences between this species and related taxa of the genus Stigonema are discussed. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the studied samples was performed using 16S–23S rRNA sequences. The correlation of morphological and molecular data, as well as the comparison of the sequences obtained from the samples with data available in the NCBI database, allowed the identification of a new species of the genus Stigonema.

The Chroococcus-like strain was collected from anthropogenic meadow on the Barents Sea coast (Murmansk Region, Russia). It was studied by light microscope, the nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA and ITS were obtained. Based on 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis, the strain KPABG LID-610023 was placed in the clade of Inacoccus in spite of morphological and molecular differences from one already established species: Inacoccus carmineus. Morphologically the tested strain did not show colored hyaline envelopes, and nanocytes were absent. The nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA gene clearly demonstrated a genetic difference, separating it from Inacoccus carmineus. In addition, we compared ITS sequences of KPABG LID-610023 strain and Inacoccus carmineus and found that nucleotide composition, length, and secondary structures of D1–D1' and Box-B were different. These results suggest that the strain KPABG LID-610023 appear to be a new species of the genus Inacoccus. Possibly this new species is a cryptic taxon due to its morphological similarity with Chroococcus pallidus Näg.

This work introduces Waterburya agarophytonicola Bonthond and Shalygin gen. nov., sp. nov, a baeocyte producing cyanobacterium that was isolated from the rhodophyte Agarophyton vermiculophyllum (Ohmi) Gurgel et al., an invasive seaweed that has spread across the northern hemisphere. The new species genome reveals a diverse repertoire of chemotaxis and adhesion related genes, including genes coding for type IV pili assembly proteins and a high number of genes coding for filamentous hemagglutinin family (FHA) proteins. Among a genetic basis for the synthesis of siderophores, carotenoids and numerous vitamins, W. agarophytonicola is potentially capable of producing cobalamin (vitamin B12), for which A. vermiculophyllum is an auxotroph. With a taxonomic description of the genus and species and a draft genome, this study provides as a basis for future research, to uncover the nature of this geographically independent association between seaweed and cyanobiont.

A new species of heterocytous cyanobacterium Dulcicalothrix alborzica sp. nov. (Calotrichaceae) was isolated from Iran and described following a polyphasic approach. Morphological examination indicated that the strain, initially called "Alborzica", belonged to the genus Calothrix. Nonetheless, 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that "Alborzica" were within the Dulcicalothrix cluster. In order to confirm the taxonomic position of this new taxon, rbcL and rpoC1 phylogenies were inferred. Results confirmed identity of "Alborzica" supporting the 16S rRNA phylogeny. Analysis of the secondary structures of 16S-23S Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) revealed that "Alborzica" had unique structure compared with known Dulcicalothrix spp. Therefore, based on the morphology and thorough molecular analysis, "Alborzica'' should be considered a novel species in the genus Dulcicalothrix.

The Laguna Madre-Tamaulipas is the world’s largest hypersaline lagoon and is equally located in south Texas, USA, and Tamaulipas, Mexico. Over 40% of its American surface area is covered by wind-tidal sand flats containing cyanobacteria as the major autotrophic component of the microbial community. A recent laboratory examination of these microbial mats revealed the presence of a boring, filamentous cyanobacterium which, in culture, ‘drilled’ through an agar substrate. The observed clockwise/counterclockwise rotation, gliding, and boring ability of the filaments was atypical for any known cyanobacterium. The isolate from Laguna Madre produces nine toxins that were originally described from both marine and freshwater habitats. Presence of a diverse array of bioactive metabolites in our unialgal culture agrees with earlier work demonstrating diverse toxin production by marine cyanobacteria. Initial comparison of this new taxon with its polyphasically closest genus, Oxynema, showed several morphological, physiological, and phylogenetic differences, warranting establishment of a new family Laspinemaceae, containing Perforafilum tunnelli gen. & sp. nov.

The toxin producing cyanobacterium Microcystis sp. was collected in the mid October 2020 from the shallow waters of Snow Lake (New Mexico, USA). This species caused a visible bloom consisting of the pale green irregular macro colonies. Mass spectral analysis of the biomass revealed the presence of 4 derivatives of microcystin in that bloom: MC-LR (in the water and biomass), MC-RR (in biomass), MC-LY (in biomass), and MC-YR (in biomass).Next-generation sequencing allowed the retrieval of two Microcystis sequences in the bloom; which are molecular benchmarks for toxic Microcystis that may be used in future monitoring studies. Light microscopy provided evidence for the taxonomic affiliation of the found morphotype as Microcystis flos-aquae (Wittrock) Kirchner. However, molecular sequencing and the present situation in cyanobacterial taxonomy prevented affiliation of our morphotype to Microcystis flos-aquae, justifying following name – Microcystis sp. Confocal microscopy was used to determine the distribution of the cell content utilizing 3D stereo imaging. Emission spectra analysis identified the pigment composition and pigment distribution within the cells. SEM revealed 3D arrangement of the cells in the colonies, texture of the surface of the cells (perhaps dehydrated collapsed polysaccharides), F-layer and pili-like structures. Additionally, SEM/EDS analysis confirmed the F-layer using elemental composition analysis, which showed sulfur in the F-layer – typical element for that structure. Through the use of AFM, we analyzed the texture of the cell's surface and confirmed pili-like structures.

Background Knowledge about the distribution of organisms on Earth is important backbone of biological sciences and especially for deeper understanding of biogeography. However, much of the existing distributional data are scattered throughout a multitude of sources (including in different languages), such as taxonomic publications, checklists and natural history collections and often, bringing them together is difficult. Development of the digital storage facilities may prevent loss of important data (Ruchin et al. 2020). Project GBIF is a good example of a successful data storage facility, which allows investigators to publish biodiversity data in one safe place in one uniform format. Our dataset describes the degree of the investigation of the fish fauna of the inland water of the Murmansk Region. Murmansk Region is a Euro-Arctic Region with a heterogeneous landscape, which determines diversity of the habitats for the fish occurrence. Our dataset contains valid information about distribution of the fish species. This dataset was built upon information obtained by the members of a Laboratory of the aquatic ecosystems of the Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems of Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Science (INEP KSC RAS). The dataset includes 18,509 records about 16 fish species from 14 genera (eight families) collected from 1972 to 2021. A total of 67 water bodies from 15 different basins (rivers from basins of the White and Barents Seas) was screened in order to characterise ichthyocenoses. The main purpose of publishing a database is to make our data available in the global biodiversity system to a wide range of users. The data can be used by researchers, as well as helping the authorities to manage their territory more efficiently. New information All occurrences are published in GBIF for the first time. We would like to make this data available to everyone by adding it in the global biodiversity database (GBIF).

Stenomitos is a recently established cyanobacterial genus, some species of which appear to be cryptic. Here we describe two new species in this genus, Stenomitos kolaensis sp. nov. isolated from the Al-Fe humic podzols of a boreal forest near Nikel town, Murmansk region, Russia and S. hiloensis sp. nov. isolated from a basaltic seep wall on Akeola Road, Hilo, Hawaii, USA. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted on the 16S and 16S-23S ITS rRNA gene regions using Bayesian Inference, and Maximum Likelihood. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S-23S ITS rRNA region resulted in both S. kolaensis and S. hiloensis forming separate clades from other Stenomitos lineages. Antarctic strains of Stenomitos frigidus (previously reported as “Leptolyngbya frigida”) show that species to be polyphyletic and in need of revision. The structure of the conserved ITS regions (Box-B, D1-D1ʹ, V2 and V3 helices) provided support for separation of the species, and the p-distances among aligned ITS regions further confirmed that a number of species exist within the genus. S. kolaensis and S. hiloensis can be distinguished from other described Stenomitos species (S. rutilans and S. tremulus) by their geographical distribution, habitat preference, 16S rRNA phylogeny, and differences in the secondary structure of the 16S-23S ITS region.

Cyanobacteria are the most abundant photosynthetic organisms in the Arctic. A simple morphology with a few diagnostics features, together with ecological plasticity complicate their species identification. The use of unialgal cultures with subsequent molecular analyses could reveal cryptic diversity of some cyanobacteria taxa. In this article, we studied a number of difficult-to-identify strains of cyanobacteria isolated from the Arctic (Svalbard archipelago) and mountain-tundras (Khibiny and Subpolar Urals) from terrestrial and near-water habitats. The strains are stored in the collections of cyanobacteria of the Institute of Biology of the Komi Scientific Center (SYKOA) and the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden Institute (KPABG). The article gives the morphological characteristics of the studied strains: the size of the filaments, the shape of trichomes, the presence of nodules and necridic cells, the form of terminal cells. The studied strains of cyanobacteria were characterized by similar morphological structures. Their reliable identification only on the basis of morphology was impossible. The analyzed strains have a fairly simple structure and according to morphological characteristics belong to Leptolyngbya s.l. Exploring strains were tested using nucleotide sequence data of 16S rRNA and 16S-23S ITS. This made it possible to clarify their genus affiliation. Stenomitos sp. SYKOA-C-003-10, Nodosilinea sp. KPABG-3220, and Droutiella sp. SYKOA-C-002-10 appear to be new for science species gathered in high Arctic.

A cyanobacterial strain isolated from the Svalbard archipelago was studied using morphological, ecological, and molecular approaches. The morphology of natural populations fit well the description of the Leptolyngbya s.l. however, in culture, they formed specific nodules that prevented affiliation to this genus. Further phylogenetic analyses including the 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S ITS region revealed that the strain corresponds to the genus Nodosilinea. Based on this total evidence approach, we provide here a description of the new taxon Nodosilinea svalbardensis sp. nov.

Here we describe Cryptogamic Russian Information System (CRIS), a web service cataloguing the biodiversity of cryptogams: cyanobacteria, fungi (including lichens), and bryophytes. CRIS incorporates a wide spectrum of data types, allowing for greater ease of use. It is possible to print the labels for herbarium collections, to input literature references, media files, etc., using CRIS which has a flexible interface and specific technical abilities. Currently, CRIS contains ~ 90,000 herbarium records, including 67,861 records of bryophytes, 12,486 records of lichens and 3,800 records of cyanobacteria. Data analysis of the different taxonomic groups is provided below. Perspectives and directions for the future development of CRIS are discussed.

Strains with complete morphological match to Pleurocapsa fuliginosa and P. minor were isolated from Oahu, with another strain matching P. minor isolated from a wet rock face in Utah. Phylogenetically these baeocyte and pseudofilament producing strains fell in a single well-supported clade among a number of pleurocapsalean strains. They were sister to a clade of baeocyte-producing strains that lack the ability to form psuedofilaments and likely belong in an as-yet-to-be-described genus. Strains putatively named Pleurocapsa are scattered throughout the Pleurocapsales and Chroococcales, indicating a need for clear definition of the genus so that revisionary work and alpha-level taxonomy can move forward. To satisfy this need, P. fuliginosa HA4302-MV1 and P. minor HA4230-MV1 were chosen as neotype and epitype, respectively, establishing the genus based on molecular sequence data. In addition to the distinctive morphology of the genus, all Pleurocapsa species for which 16S-23S ITS regions are available have an unusually long, branched D5 helix at the termination of the ITS region. The sister clade of strains that lack the ability to form pseudofilaments also possess an unusually long and branched D5 helix as well, suggesting that this feature of the ITS region may be a family-level synapomorphy.

Pleurocapsales are one of the least understood groups of cyanobacteria in terms of molecular systematics and biochemistry. Considering the high number of cryptic taxa within the Synechococcales and Oscillatoriales, it is likely that such taxa also occur in the Pleurocapsales. The new genus described in our research is the first known pleurocapsalean cryptic taxon. It produces off‐flavor and a large number of bioactive metabolites (n = 38) some of which can be toxic including four known microcystins. Using a polyphasic approach, we propose the establishment of the genus Odorella with the new species O. benthonica from material originally isolated from the California Aqueduct near Los Angeles.

Soil cyanobacteria are crucial components of biological soil crusts and carry out many functions in dryland ecosystems. Despite this importance, their taxonomy and population genetics remain poorly known. We isolated 42 strains of simple filamentous cyanobacteria previously identified as Pseudophormidium hollerbachianum from 26 desert locations in the North and South America and characterized these strains using a total evidence approach, that is, using both morphological and molecular data to arrive at taxonomic decisions. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, we propose and characterize Myxacorys gen. nov. with two new species Myxacorys chilensis, the generitype, and M. californica. We also found distinct 16S-23S ITS sequence variability within species in our dataset. Especially interesting was the presence of two distinct lineages of M. californica obtained from locations in close spatial proximity (within a few meters to kilometers from each other) suggesting niche differentiation. The detection of such unrecognized lineage-level variability in soil cyanobacteria has important implications for biocrust restoration practices and conservation efforts.

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.

Two populations of Rivularia‐like cyanobacteria were isolated from ecologically distinct and biogeographically distant sites. One population was from an unpolluted stream in the Kola Peninsula of Russia, whereas the other was from a wet wall in the Grand Staircase‐Escalante National Monument, a desert park‐land in Utah. Though both were virtually indistinguishable from Rivularia in field and cultured material, they were both phylogenetically distant from Rivularia and the Rivulariaceae based on both 16S rRNA and rbcLX phylogenies. We here name the new cryptic genus Cyanomargarita gen. nov., with type species C. melechinii sp. nov., and additional species C. calcarea sp. nov. We also name a new family for these taxa, the Cyanomargaritaceae.

The strain of Nostoc sp. isolated in pure culture from the soils of the Kola Peninsula in the Kandalaksha aluminum factory area differed much larger heterocytes and akinetes compared with other species of the genus Nostoc. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA site showed that our strain is located exactly in the middle of Nostoc sensu lato in the clade with Nostoc Bashkir 6A and Nostoc PCC9709. We assume that our strain is a new species of the genus Nostoc sp., however, for a more accurate identification of a specific accessory, we need further studies of other regions of genes