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Reptodigitus Chapmanii (Nostocales, Hapalosiphonaceae) Gen. Nov.: A Unique Nostocalean (Cyanobacteria) Genus Based on a Polyphasic Approach 1
Author(s) -
Casamatta Dale A.,
Villanueva Chelsea D.,
Garvey Alyssa D.,
Stocks Holly S.,
Vaccarino Melissa,
Dvořák Petr,
Hašler Petr,
Johansen Jeffrey R.
Publication year - 2020
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/jpy.12954
Subject(s) - biology , monophyly , phylogenetic tree , clade , lineage (genetic) , genus , botany , taxon , evolutionary biology , sister group , phylogenetics , zoology , genetics , gene
The Nostocales is a monophyletic, heterocytous lineage of cyanobacteria capable of akinete production and division in multiple planes, depending upon family‐level clade. While present in a variety of ecosystems, the diversity of the Nostocales has been poorly elucidated. Due to environmentally ‐induced phenotypic plasticity, morphology alone is often insufficient to determine the true phylogenetic placement of these taxa. In order to bridge this gap, taxonomists now employ the polyphasic approach, combining methods such as morphological analysis, phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequence and genetic identity based on ribosomal genes, and secondary structure of the 16S‐23S ITS and 16S rRNA gene sequences, as well as ecological characterization. Using this combined approach, a new genus and species ( Reptodigitus chapmanii gen. et sp. nov.) isolated from the St. Johns River (Jacksonville, Florida, USA ) within the Nostocales is herein described. Phylogenetic analyses place this taxon within the Hapalosiphonaceae, sister to the clade containing Fischerella, Hapalosiphon, and Westiellopsis . The 16S‐23S ITS secondary folding structure analysis also supports the erection of this new genus.