Biodiversity of Tehran freshwater cyanobacteria and remote sensing analysis of reservoirs

Analysis of cyanobacterial diversity is an important step towards identifying new biological resources for production of bioactive compounds. In this study cyanobacterial surface coverage was assessed through satellite image analysis of Tehran drinking water reservoirs in late summer and early autumn of 2018. We also analysed freshwater cyanobacteria including seven local strains purified from surface water samples. Following a polyphasic taxonomic approach combining morphological and molecular methods the culturable strains were classified into Synechococcales and Oscillatoriales, representing at least three families and four genera. Similarity-based analysis of their partial 16S rRNA genes showed 93.4–97.0% sequence identity among the strains from different ecosystems. Considering 95–96% as the overall cut-off for discriminating bacterial species, strains UTMC6011 and UTMC6013 are likely to be new species. Physiological characterization of the new strains and nine others isolated previously by our group from another freshwater ecosystem led to identification of seven nitrogen-fixing, 11 sulphide-tolerant, three salt-tolerant and three heterotrophic strains. Further taxonomic analyses are needed to support investigation of their biotechnological potential.

The biodiversity and physiology of cyanobacteria in the main drinking water reservoirs of the megacity, Tehran, were studied by remote sensing and sample analysis.
Seven cyanobacterial strains were isolated from the two freshwater lakes. Similarity-based analysis of obtained 16S rRNA gene sequence showed 93.4–97.0% sequence similarity with the strains from other ecosystems.
Cyanobacterial isolates of these freshwater reservoirs included seven N2-fixing, 11 sulphide-tolerant, three salt-tolerant and three heterotrophic strains.

The biodiversity and physiology of cyanobacteria in the main drinking water reservoirs of the megacity, Tehran, were studied by remote sensing and sample analysis.
Seven cyanobacterial strains were isolated from the two freshwater lakes. Similarity-based analysis of obtained 16S rRNA gene sequence showed 93.4–97.0% sequence similarity with the strains from other ecosystems.
Cyanobacterial isolates of these freshwater reservoirs included seven N2-fixing, 11 sulphide-tolerant, three salt-tolerant and three heterotrophic strains.