Characterisation of marine Phormidium isolates - conformity between molecular and ecophysiological results

Six Phormidium-like strains with filament width of 0.9-3.0 μm collected from microbial mats at Mellum Island and Schillig (German Bight), were isolated and grown as unicyanobacterial cultures. These strains were morphologically and physiologically characterised. Additionally, the 16S rRNA gene fragments were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, the amplicons were digested with six restriction enzymes and the banding patterns obtained were analysed. Networks were established using results from amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis as well as morphological and ecophysiological characters. Interestingly, cluster analysis from both molecular and ecophysiological networks were nearly identical. Our studies show the importance of the joint use of molecular methods and the autoecological, phenotypic characterisation.