The study of Cyanidiophyceae in Russia

Abstract

The eukaryotic unicellular acidothermophilic algae Cyanidiophyceae occupy a special place in the algal systems since they combine distinct characters of cyanophytes, unicellular chlorophytes and rhodophytes on the one hand, and some unique features on the other hand (see Seckbach 1992; Seckbach et al. 1992). For a long time these organisms were erroneously referred to the same taxon Cyanidium caldarium, although in reality they represent a significant range of morphological and metabolic diversity. This was established by Neapolitan (Italian) researchers who revised ‘Cyanidium caldarium’ species and classify three different acidothermophilic algae (Merola et al. 1981). These organisms were identified as three species of three different genera and two families formed a new class Cyanidiophyceae. Accordingly, it became necessary to re-identify available strains of C. caldarium based on the new taxonomy. This would be of special importance for certain fields of investigations including comparative molecular biology studies of cyanidiophytes (Seckbach 1991).