Taxonomic Implications of the Genus Microcystis (Cyanophyceae) from the Naktong River

Algae > Volume 12(3); 1997 > Article

Algae 1997;12(3): 167-176.

Jin-Ae Lee, Ae-Ran Choi, Masayuki Watanabe

Department of Environmental Science, Inje University, Department of Botany, National Science Museum

ABSTRACT

Six species of the genus Microcystis, M. incerta, M. viridis, M. wesenbergii, M. novacekii, M. ichthyoblabe and M. aeruginosa, are described with the samples from the 11 stations of the Naktong River to have taxonomic consideration based on morphological variation in the natural habitat. The criteria of species identification are mainly the cell size and content. the shape of the colony, the nature of colonial sheath and the cell arrangement in colony, Microcystis aeruginosa is the most common species of the phytoplankton community and the species is the major component of the heavy water bloom in the Naktong River system. The species shows cell size differentiations such as 3.6~4.6 μm and 4.4~6.6 μm in diameter. The smaller type of the species is more abundant in the estuary of the Naktong River, which occasionally have salt intrusion from the sea.

Key words: Cyanophyceae, Microcystis, morphology, Naktong River, taxonomy