Study of Biodiversity of Algae and Cyanobacteria of Mutnovsky and Gorely Volcanoes Soils (Kamchatka Peninsula) Using a Polyphasic Approach

Abstract

Volcanic activity has a significant influence on the development of terrestrial ecosystems, including the Kamchatka Peninsula. We aimed to study the terrestrial algoflora of the Mutnovsky and Gorely volcanoes based on the use of clonal cultures of algae and cyanobacteria, and phenotypic and molecular genetic analyses. A total of 48 taxa were identified: 9 cyanobacteria, 32 Chlorophyta (11 Chlorophyceae, 21 Trebouxiophyceae), 3 Ochrophyta, and 4 Charophyta. In soils of the Mutnovsky volcano, 30 taxa were found, and in soils of the Gorely volcano, 24 were observed. In the studied area, small coccoid or mucilage-producing algae, which belong to cosmopolitan species, were identified, including representatives of the genera Bracteacoccus, Chlorococcum, Coccomyxa, Coelastrella, Klebsormidium, Neocystis, and Vischeria. Certain taxa were detected for the first time in the studied region, including Bracteacoccus bullatus, Chlorococcum hypnosporum, Chlorococcum lobatum, Coccomyxa subellipsoidea, Klebsormidium nitens, Leptosira obovata, Lobosphaera incisa, Parietochloris pseudoalveolaris, Stenomitos tremulus, and Vischeria magna. Our analysis of the algal communities at different altitudes reveals expansion in species richness with increasing distance from the tops of the volcanoes. The obtained data allowed us to estimate the real biodiversity of terrestrial algae and cyanobacteria of Kamchatkan volcanic soils, as well as the ecologies of these microorganisms.

Phylogenetic construction of Green Algae Based on the rbcL Gene

“…Green algae species with different habitats are grouped into the same genus so that the two species are still closely related. According to Allaguvatova et al [24], Chlorococcum is a genus commonly found in terrestrial ecosystems. Chlorococcum hypnosporum is found in the forest steppes of Ukraine.…”

New data on cyanobacteria and algae in the Russian Far East. Part II

“…2021;Никулин и др. 2021;Allaguvatova et al 2022), среди которых лишь некоторые базировались на результатах идентификации комплексным подходом, эти виды отсутствовали. Наши находки являются новыми данными, которые вносят определенный вклад в биогеографию исследованных видов цианобактерий и водорослей.…”

“…Цианобактерии и микроскопические водоросли способны жить в крайне разнообразных и порой экстремальных местообитаниях: в соленой и пресной воде; на камнях и скалах; на вулканическом пепле и пирокластических отложениях; на коре деревьев; в почве и биологических почвенных корках; пещерах; снежных полях; горячих источниках и в оазисах пустынь (например, Mikhailyuk et al 2019;Abdullin et al 2021a;Saber et al 2021;Allaguvatova et al 2022). Эти микроорганизмы являются основными первичными производителями кислорода, органических соединений, основой пищевых цепей, ценными источниками биологически активных веществ для биотехнологических исследований и производств.…”