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ABSTRACTDuring samplings aimed at isolating microalgal strains, a coccoid greyish-green alga was collected along the North Adriatic coasts (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) and grown in culture. The microalgal strain (named strain B1A) was then subjected to an integrative taxonomy approach in order to correctly identify it. Morphological and ultrastructural observations and phycobiliprotein content analysis were carried out, as well as molecular analyses based on the 18S rRNA, rbcL, psbA and plastid-encoded 23S rRNA genes. Phylogenetic placement and ultrastructural observations clearly indicated that strain B1A is a member of the red microalgal genus Dixoniella(Rhodellophyceae, Proteorhodophytina) and is distinct from the only species so far described for this taxon. Therefore, a new species was described to encompass the isolate from the North Adriatic Sea and another isolate from Japan (MF-G2), which was phylogenetically related to strain B1A: Dixoniella giordanoi sp. nov.

Wettability research was orchestrated with chemical and biological (microalgae, bacteria) characteristics in multidisciplinary assessment of different types of waters (groundwater, surface water, disinfected drinking water) from the area of Lourdes town (Haute Pyrénées Department, France). Multidisciplinary data were subjected to statistical analysis. The molecular analysis indicated that isolated cultivable bacterial strains belonging to γ-Proteobacteria significantly dominate over bacteria classified within the Flavobacteriia and β-Proteobacteria groups. The correlations between the contact angles and the chemical parameters suggest their influences on the surface tension characteristics of the waters. The relations between the contact angle and microbiological data confirm the influence of environmental conditions on the biological and surface tension parameters of the waters. Implementation of surface tensiometry technique to the study of the biological and geochemical status of groundwater has not previously been performed. This work encourages applications that aim at the assessment and understanding of groundwater ecosystems.

ABSTRACTThe association between epizoic algae and animals is well known, and turtles are among the animals that most commonly host epibiont communities. The most studied algal component of the epizoic communities found on turtles is represented by diatoms, while other algal taxa, like the Rhodophyta, are less investigated. During a survey started to study the epibionts associated with loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, cared for at the WWF Sea Turtle Rescue Center of Lampedusa Island (Sicily, Italy), specimens of Rhodomelaceae (Rhodophyta) were collected for taxonomic investigation. The resulting vegetative, reproductive, and molecular data of those specimens characterised the new species described here as Melanothamnus testudinis sp. nov. We also evaluated the holotype of Polysiphonia carettiaHollenberg, an epibiont of C. carettareported from the Mediterranean Sea. This investigation confirmed the distinction of M. testudinisfrom P. carettiaand suggested that previous Mediterranean and Canarian records of the latter species are probably M. testudinis.