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Type: Article
Published: 2016-12-22
Page range: 135–146
Abstract views: 17
PDF downloaded: 1

Nephrococcus serbicus, a new coccoid cyanobacterial species from Božana Cave, Serbia

University of Belgrade, Scientific Institution, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Ecology and Technoeconomics, Belgrade, Serbia University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Belgrade, Serbia
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Belgrade, Serbia
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Center for Electron Microscopy, Studentski trg 16, Belgrade, Serbia
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Center for Electron Microscopy, Studentski trg 16, Belgrade, Serbia
Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dukelská 135, CZ-37982 Třeboň, Czech Republic Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Algae aerophytic on limestone substrate biofilm cyanobacteria new species Nephrococcus

Abstract

During the investigation of cyanobacterial diversity in Božana Cave, which is situated in a limestone region in western Serbia, a new species of cyanobacterium belonging to the genus Nephrococcus was found. So far, there are only three records of the genus Nephrococcus in the whole world (recorded in China and Nepal), which was reviewed and is presented in this study. Detailed morphology of the examined cyanobacterium was documented by digital photography and drawings using light and confocal laser microscopy. Ecology (temperature, relative humidity and light intensity) and biofilm parameters (chlorophyll-a, the water content and the content of organic/inorganic matter in the biofilm) were also measured, and the associated taxa described. Detailed morphological characteristics that indicated the differences between this species from those already known, allowed us to describe this cyanobacterium as a new species, Nephrococcus serbicus. This is the first record of the genus Nephrococcus in the territory of Europe.