Phylogenetic and morphological diversity of cyanobacteria in soil desert crusts from the Colorado plateau.

ABSTRACT: We compared the community structures of cyanobacteria in four biological desert crusts from Utah's Colorado Plateau developing on different substrata. We analyzed natural samples, cultures, and cyanobacterial filaments or colonies retrieved by micromanipulation from field samples using microscopy, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. While microscopic analyses apparently underestimated the biodiversity of thin filamentous cyanobacteria, molecular analyses failed to retrieve signals for otherwise conspicuous heterocystous cyanobacteria with thick sheaths. The diversity found in desert crusts was underrepresented in currently available nucleotide sequence databases, and several novel phylogenetic clusters could be identified. Morphotypes fitting the desc

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Pichel F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC92812 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature