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TAXONOMIC CONFUSION CONCERNING CERTAIN FILAMENTOUS BLUE‐GREEN ALGAE 1
Author(s) -
Brock Thomas D.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.1968.tb04713.x
Subject(s) - biology , algae , confusion , thermophile , botany , blue green algae , segmented filamentous bacteria , bacteria , ecology , cyanobacteria , paleontology , psychology , sewage treatment , activated sludge , psychoanalysis , engineering , waste management
SUMMARY Throughout a long history many filamentous bacteria may have been identified in natural collections as blue‐green algae. This problem has been especially acute regarding the thermophilic species of hot springs, especially at the higher temperatures. It is suggested that in the absence of pure cultures, the minimal criteria for distinguishing filamentous bacteria from blue‐green algae microscopically should be: (1) observation of the chlorophyll fluorescence with a fluorescent microscope and (2) demonstration of light‐dependent 14 CO 2 fixation autoradiographically. Pure cultures of a number of filamentous thermophiles have been obtained from habitats at temperatures above 60 C. These cultures resemble microscopically the natural material, grow only heterot rophically, and do not contain chlorophyll.