Culture studies on the morphology of ten strains of Antarctic Oscillatoriaceae (Cyanobacteria)

Summary

The culture characteristics of algae from the Oscillatoriaceae (Cyanobacteria, “blue-green algae”) in Antarctica are poorly known. In this report, the morphology of ten strains is examined at equal age under identical conditions in culture. Plant mass and microscopic morphological characteristics are recorded for each strain. On the whole it was found to be more reliable and convenient to distinguish strains on the bases of cell and trichome than by their plant mass characteristics. Correlations are attempted on the basis of trichome and cell morphology between the strains in culture and previous records from Antarctica identified as classical species. Also, the strains are correlated where possible with those described from axenic cultures by Rippka et al. (1979). Ambiguities are highlighted in classical and culture-based taxonomic systems, due to our lack of knowledge of sheath variability. It is concluded that wide-ranging continued investigation of the Oscillatoriaceae from Antarctica could contribute to a useful and reliable taxonomic system.