Taxonomic and ecological characterization of cyanobacteria from some brackish and saline lakes of Southern Transbaikal Region

The species composition of cyanobacteria from 12 lakes of Southern Transbaikal Region was studied. In the studied lakes, a total of 28 species of cyanobacteria were detected, including 10 species previously not retrieved from the lakes of Southern Transbaikal Region. The morphological and ecophysiological characteristics, as well as the phylogenetic position, of pure cyanobacterial cultures were determined. According to the results of 16S rRNA sequencing, the Cya 1, Cya 2, and Cya 10 cultures were identified as representatives of the genus Phormidium; the Cya 5 and Cya 6 cultures were assigned to the genus Nodularia. On the basis of its morphological properties, the Cya 4 culture was identified as Pseudanabaena frigida. The studied microorganisms were moderate alkaliphiles and could grow within a broad salinity range (0-100 g/l NaCl).