Unveiling The Diversity of Periphytic Cyanobacteria (Cyanophyceae) from Tropical Mangroves in Penang, Malaysia

Rahim, Nur Afiqah Abdul; Merican, Faradina Merican Mohd Sidik; Radzi, Ranina; Omar, Wan Maznah Wan; Nor, Siti Azizah Mohd; Broady, Paul; Convey, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8497-9903. 2023 Unveiling The Diversity of Periphytic Cyanobacteria (Cyanophyceae) from Tropical Mangroves in Penang, Malaysia. Tropical Life Sciences Research, 34 (3). 57-94. 10.21315/tlsr2023.34.3.4

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Official URL: https://ejournal.usm.my/tlsr/article/view/3769

Abstract/Summary

Cyanobacteria are one of the most important groups of photoautotrophic organisms, contributing to carbon and nitrogen fixation in mangroves worldwide. They also play an important role in soil retention and stabilisation and contribute to high plant productivity through their secretion of plant growth-promoting substances. However, their diversity and distribution in Malaysian mangrove ecosystems have yet to be studied in detail, despite Malaysia hosting a significant element of remaining mangroves globally. In a floristic survey conducted in Penang, peninsular Malaysia, 33 morphospecies of periphytic cyanobacteria were identified and described for the first time from a mangrove ecosystem in Malaysia. Sixteen genera, comprising Aphanocapsa, Chroococcus, Chroococcidiopsis, Cyanobacterium, Desmonostoc, Geitlerinema, Leptolyngbya, Lyngbya, Microcystis, Myxosarcina, Oscillatoria, Phormidium, Pseudanabaena, Spirulina, Trichocoleus and Xenococcus, were obtained from field material growing on diverse natural and artificial substrata. Oscillatoriales was the dominant order with Phormidium the dominant genus at nine of the 15 sampling sites examined. Three of the morphospecies, Aphanocapsa cf. concharum, Xenococcus cf. pallidus and Oscillatoria pseudocurviceps, are rare and poorly known morphospecies worldwide. Chroococcus minutus, Phormidium uncinatum, P. amphigranulata, and some species of Oscillatoriales are considered as pollution indicator species. This study provides important baseline information for further investigation of the cyanobacterial microflora present in other mangrove areas around Malaysia. A complete checklist will enhance understanding of their ecological role and the potential for benefits arising from useful secondary metabolites or threats via toxin production to the ecosystem.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.21315/tlsr2023.34.3.4
ISSN:	1985-3718
Additional Keywords:	Cyanobacteria, morphospecies, phenotypic diversity, tropical, mangrove
Date made live:	04 Apr 2023 08:47 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/534309

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.21315/tlsr2023.34.3.4

ISSN:

1985-3718

Additional Keywords:

Cyanobacteria, morphospecies, phenotypic diversity, tropical, mangrove

Date made live:

04 Apr 2023 08:47 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/534309