Ultra-high specific surface area activated carbon from Taihu cyanobacteria via KOH activation for enhanced methylene blue adsorption

Cyanobacteria-based activated carbon(CBAC)was successfully prepared by pyrolysis-activation of Taihu cyanobacteria.When the impregnation ratio and activated temperature were 2 and 800-C,respectively,the optimal CBACs possessed an ultra-high specific surface(2178.90 m^(2)·g^(-1))and plenty of micro-and meso-pores,as well as a high pore volume(1.01 cm^(3)·g^(-1)).Ascribed to ultra-high surface area,π-π interaction,electrostatic interaction,as well as hydrogen-bonding interactions,the CBACs displayed huge superiority in efficient dye removal.The saturated methylene blue adsorption capacity by CBACs could be as high as 1143.4 mg·g^(-1),superior to that of other reported biomass-activated carbons.The adsorption was endothermic and modeled well by the pseudo-second-order kinetic,intra-particle diffusion,and Langmuir models.This work presented the effectiveness of Taihu cyanobacteria adsorbent ascribed to its super large specific surface area and high adsorption ability.

Periodic Addition of Glucose Suppressed Cyanobacterial Abundance in Additive Lake Water Samples during the Entire Bloom Season

Previously, we showed that prophylactic addition of glucose to Harsha Lake water samples could inhibit cyanobacteria growth, at least for a short period of time. The current study tested cyanobacterial control with glucose for the entire Harsha Lake bloom season. Water samples (1000 ml) were collected weekly from Harsha Lake during the algal-bloom season starting June 9 and lasting until August 24, 2022. To each of two 7-liter polypropylene containers, 500 ml of Harsha Lake water was added, and the containers were placed in a controlled environment chamber. To one container labeled “Treated,” 0.15 g of glucose was added, and nothing was added to the container labeled “Control.” After that, three 25 ml samples from each container were collected and used for 16S rRNA gene sequencing each week. Then 1000 ml of Harsha Lake water was newly collected each week, with 500 ml added to each container, along with the addition of 0.15 g glucose to the “Treated” container. Sequencing data were used to examine differences in the composition of bacterial communities between Treated and Control containers. Treatment with glucose altered the microbial communities by 1) reducing taxonomic diversity, 2) largely eliminating cyanobacterial taxa, and 3) increasing the relative abundance of subsets of non-cyanobacterial taxa (such as Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota). These effects were observed across time despite weekly inputs derived directly from Lake water. The addition of glucose to a container receiving weekly additions of Lake water suppressed the cyanobacterial populations during the entire summer bloom season. The glucose appears to stimulate the diversity of certain bacterial taxa at the expense of the cyanobacteria.

Microscopic analysis on eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria in nine seasonal lakes and ponds in Vestfjella,Dronning Maud Land,Antarctica

Antarctic continental lakes and ponds are among the most impoverished aquatic environments on earth but many of them support flourishing populations of cyanobacteria,eukaryotic algae,protozoans,and some multicellular animals.In this study,we present results of a microscopic analysis of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae from nine diverse types of Antarctic continental water bodies during one austral summer.The results supplement and enlarge our previous studies on the limnological characteristics of the epiglacial and supraglacial lakes and ponds in Dronning Maud Land,an area that has received little attention from limnologists.The taxon with highest frequency among the samples(n=79)was Mesotaenium cf.berggrenii,a eukaryotic Zygnematophyceae,which occurred in 82%of the samples with a maximum cell density of 68 cells·mL^(-1).The taxa with second and third highest frequency were the prokaryotes Gloeocapsopsis(60%)and Leptolyngbya(41%),followed by Chlamydomonas(34%)and Cyanothece(29%).The number of taxa varied between 7-21 among the lakes and ponds,being highest in a supraglacial lake,and lowest in an epiglacial lake.The results did not reveal any obvious correlation between the abundance of any taxa and the water chemistry,but water bodies with inorganic sediments had higher cell densities and biomasses than those without sediment.This suggests the importance of sediment in supporting biological diversity in these ultraoligotrophic lakes and ponds.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of cyanobacterial abundance and toxicity in a Mediterranean hypereutrophic lake

The Mediterranean basin is considered one of the most vulnerable areas in the world under the impacts of global warming and changes in precipitation patterns.Oubeira,a shallow and polymictic freshwater lake located in northeastern Algeria(36°50′N,08°23′E),has recently experienced a significant proliferation of harmful cyanobacteria resulting in the generation of toxins.We carried out this study in order to understand the succession patterns of dominant cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin production and the factors driving this in Oubeira Lake.A total of 26 cyanobacterial genera were identified,and among them Microcystis and Planktothrix accounted for more than 60%of the overall cell abundance.The summer/fall period was dominated by Microcystis,Planktothrix,and in lesser extend by Cylindrospermum,Cylindrospermopsis.During the fall/winter transition,Dolichospermum,Pseudanabaena,and Aphanizomenon were the dominant genera.Statistically,the bloom-forming cyanobacteria showed significant differences between months but not between stations.Intracellular microcystins(MC-LR)was detected in all collected samples(0.62-and 19.14-μg MC-LR equivalent/L),but appeared in high concentrations throughout the period of dominance of Microcystis and Planktothrix.Microcystis was more sensitive to nutrients than to temperature.Planktothrix was more dependent on temperature than on nutrients,which explains their coexistence during summer-fall period.However,both genera are positively correlated with MC-LR and would probably be the main producers of microcystins.Pseudanabaena,Dolichospermum,and Aphanizomenon co-occurred at the end of Planktothrix dominance period(December).Aphanizomenon and Pseudanabaena were correlated negatively with temperature and positively with water conductivity.Dolichospermum showed a strong positive correlation with MC-LR.Oubeira Lake,could serve as a model of how cyanobacteria blooms may develop in lakes within Mediterranean climates.

Hydrocarbon generation differences of shales composed of green algal and cyanobacteria: A case study of Mesozoic and Cenozoic saline lacustrine shales in Junggar Basin, NW China

The Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata in the Junggar basin developed two sets of shallow to semi-deep lacustrine shale, namely, the Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation (K_(1q)) and the Paleogene Anjihaihe Formation (E_(2-3a)). Through organic petrology and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, it is found that the primary hydrocarbon-generating organic matter (OM) in the two sets of strata is different. The biological precursor of the E_(2-3a) OM is mainly green algae (Pediastrum), while the precursor of K_(1q) kerogen is mainly cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria). Then, the E_(2-3a) green algae-rich shale and K_(1q) cyanobacteria-rich shale were subjected to hydrous pyrolysis and kinetic analysis, respectively. The results show that the evolution modes of hydrocarbon generation of the typical shales are very different. Green algae have the characteristics of a low oil generation threshold, heavy oil quality, and no prominent oil peak, while cyanobacteria have the characteristics of late oil generation, concentrated hydrocarbon generation, and relatively light oil quality. The characteristics of oil generation can also be well reflected in the composition evolution of the crude oil components. The carbon isotope of gas, kerogen, and extracts of the E_(2-3a) green algae-rich shale are significantly heavier than the K_(1q) cyanobacteria-rich shale, which may be related to the living habits of their biological precursors, carbon source usage, photosynthesis efficiency, and carbon fixation efficiency.

Measurement of Gas Vesicle in Cyanobacteria and Its Pretreatment Methods

[Objective]The aim was to measure gas vesicle in cyanobacteria and discuss its pretreatment methods.[Method]The capillary pressure method to determine gas vesicle in cyanobacteria was modified firstly,and then the lower detection limit and precision of modified apparatus were tested,finally the effects of two concentration methods and preservation methods on cell quantity and gas vesicle content of three cyanobacterias were studied.[Result]The lower detection limit and precision of modified apparatus to measure gas vesicle in three cyanobacterias were 0.001 8 μl/ml and 1% respectively.Unicellular Microcystis couldn＇t be concentrated effectively by filtration or centrifugation method,and the loss rate reached 50%.However,the colony of Microcystis and filamentous Planktothrix mougeotii could be effectively concentrated by centrifugation and filtration method respectively,with low loss rate.Besides,the effects of filtration and centrifugation on the content of gas vesicle in cells could be neglected.After preserved by direct refrigeration and adding Lugol＇s iodine solution for 7 d,there was no obvious change in cell concentration and gas vesicle content per cell,and the loss of gas vesicle under direct refrigeration was small,while the preservation of natural water samples should add Lugol＇s iodine solution.[Conclusion]The study could provide theoretical foundation for the researches on buoyancy regulation mechanism and blooming mechanism of cyanobacteria.

Research process of the calcium signaling in cyanobacteria

The potential involvement of calcium in signalling in cyanobacteria has been investigated in recent years. Enough evidences showed that the cyanobacteria were capable of sensing and distinguishing different environmental stimuli, and making responses in ways of Ca^2＋ transients, which were the results of influx or efflux of Ca^2＋ aroused by different environmental stimuli. The calcium signal elicited by nitrogen starvation was crucial to heterocyst differentiation in filamentous cyanobacteria Anabaena species. Identification of a calcium-binding protein （CcbP） from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 provided further evidence, and the degradation and down-regulation of CcbP accounted for the generation of calcium signal when nitrogen starvation exits. However, the encoding and decoding mechanisms of the calcium signals in cyanobacteria still remain unclear. In order to reveal the exact role of it, a detailed, systematic investigation will be needed, especially for the calcium dynamics at the single cell level.

Hyperspectral Reflectance Characteristics of Cyanobacteria

Potentially harmful cyanobacterial blooms are an emerging environmental concern in freshwater bodies worldwide. Cyanobacterial blooms are generally caused by high nutrient inputs and warm, still waters and have been appearing with increasing frequency in water bodies used for drinking water supply and recreation, a problem which will likely worsen with a warming climate. Cyanobacterial blooms are composed of genera with known biological pigments and can be distinguished and analyzed via hyperspectral image collection technology such as remote sensing by satellites, airplanes, and drones. Here, we utilize hyperspectral microscopy and imaging spectroscopy to characterize and differentiate several important bloom-forming cyanobacteria genera obtained in the field during active research programs conducted by US Geological Survey and from commercial sources. Many of the cyanobacteria genera showed differences in their spectra that may be used to identify and predict their occurrence, including peaks and valleys in spectral reflectance. Because certain cyanobacteria, such as Cylindrospermum or Dolichospermum, are more prone to produce cyanotoxins than others, the ability to differentiate these species may help target high priority waterbodies for sampling. These spectra may also be used to prioritize restoration and research efforts to control cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) and improve water quality for aquatic life and humans alike.

Genetic Diversity of Marine and Fresh Water Cyanobacteria from the Gujarat State of India

Cyanobacteria from habitats within Gujarat have been poorly studied with regard to their diversity. In the present investigation eight morphologically distinct cyanobacterial isolates were obtained and characterized from the fresh water and marine habitats. Identification was performed based on morphological features and on 16S rDNA sequences analysis. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rDNA sequence of cyanobacterial isolates was prepared. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the eight morphologically distinct isolates into two distinct groups thus highlighting the importance of both morphological and genetic methods in studying cyanobacterial diversity.

The morphological and molecular detection for the presence of toxic Cylindrospermopsis(Nostocales, Cyanobacteria) in Beijing city, China

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and its highly similar relatives Raphidiopsis species have been recognized as globally invasive and expansive filamentous cyanobacteria causing water blooms. Reports on C. raciborsMi/Raphidiopsis species and their harmful metabolites such as hepatotoxic cylindrospermopsins （CYNs） in Chinese waters have been increasing, but mostly restricted to the southern regions of China. To further explore the existence and distribution of C. raciborskii in China, six water samples from Beijing city were morphologically and molecularly examined. Five samples of the six were shown to have Cylindrospermopsis filaments with straight and spiral morphotypes. PCR detection targeting on Cylindrospermopsis/Raphidiopsis specific 16S rRNA gene region also showed the positive amplification, and such amplifications were confirmed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. As well, three of the five Cylindrospermopsis containing samples were shown to have cyrJ--a gene of CYN synthesis gene duster. The results represented the presence of toxic Cylindrospermopsis at the most northern line in China so far, indicating rapid expansion of this harmful invasive cyanobacterium. It is strongly suggested that the monitoring on C. raciborskii/Raphidiopsis species and their production of cylindrospermopsin should be emphasized in Beijing and even more northem parts of China.

Hepatitis B virus x gene and cyanobacterial toxins promote aflatoxin B_1-induced hepatotumorigenesis in mice

AIM： To assess the combinative role of aflatoxin B1 （AFB1）, cyanobacterial toxins （cyanotoxins）, and hepatitis B virus （HBV） x gene in hepatotumorigenicity. METHODS： One-week-old animals carrying HBV x gene and their wild-type littermates were intraperitoneally （ip） injected with either single-dose AFB1 [6 mg/kg body weight （bw）], repeated-dose cyanotoxins （microcystin- LR or nodularin, 10 μg/kg bw once a week for 15 wk）, DMSO （vehicle control） alone, or AFB1 followed by cyanotoxins a week later, and were sacrificed at 24 and 52 wk post-treatment. RESULTS： AFB1 induced liver tumors in 13 of 29 （44.8%） transcjenic mice at 52 wk post-treatment, significantly more frequent than in wild-type mice （13.3%）. This significant difference was not shown in the 24-wk study. Compared with AFB1 exposure alone, MC-LR and nodularin yielded approximately 3-fold and 6-fold increases in the incidence of AFB1-induced liver tumors in wild-type animals at 24 wk, respectively. HBV x gene did not further elevate the risk associated with coexposure to AFB1 and cyanotoxins. With the exception of an MC-LR-dosed wild-type mouse, no liver tumor was observed in mice treated with cyanotoxins alone at 24 wk. Neither DMSO-treated transgenic mice nor their wild-type littermates had pathologic alterations relevant to hepatotumorigenesis in even up to 52 wk. CONCLUSION： HBV x gene and nodularin promote the development of AFB1-induced liver tumors. Co-exposure to AFB1 and MC-LR tends to elevate the risk of liver tumors at 24 wk relative to exposure to one of them. The combinative effect of AFB1, cyanotoxins and HBVx on hepatotumorigenesis is weak at 24 wk.

Fractional pyrolysis of Cyanobacteria from water blooms over HZSM-5 for high quality bio-oil production

Fractional pyrolysis and one-step pyrolysis of natural algae Cyanobacteria from Taihu Lake were comparatively studied from 200 to 500 ℃. One-step pyrolysis produced bio-oil with complex composition and low high heating value （HHV〈30.9 MJ/kg）. Fractional pyrolysis separated the degradation of different components in Cyanobacteria and improved the selectivity to products in bio-oil. That is, acids at 200 ℃, amides and acids at 300 ℃, phenols and nitriles at 400 ℃, and phenols at 500 ℃, were got as main products, respectively. HZSM-5 could promote the dehydration, cracking and aromatization of pyrolytic intermediates in fractional pyrolysis. At optimal HZSM-5 catalyst dosage of 1.0 g, the selectivity to products and the quality of bio-oil were improved obviously. The main products in bio-oil changed to nitriles （47.2%） at 300 ℃, indoles （51.3%） and phenols （36.3%） at 400 ℃. The oxygen content was reduced to 7.2 wt% and 9.4 wt%, and the HHV was raised to 38.1 and 37.3 MJ/kg at 300 and 400 ℃, respectively. Fractional catalytic pyrolysis was proposed to be an efficient method not only to provide a potential solution for alleviating environmental pressure from water blooms, but also to improve the selectivity to products and obtain high quality bio-oil.

Bacterial and cyanobacterial diversities determined by T-RFLP analyses in the Jiaozhou Bay

The methods of DAPI staining epifluorescence microscopy and T-RFLP analysis were used to analyze the microbial abundance and diversity in surface seawater sampled from 12 stations inside and outside of the Jiaozhou Bay during a survey on 12 and 13 September 2004. The abundance of total microbes is in the range of 10^6～ 10^7 cells/cm^3, similar to those of most semi-enclosed bays in the temperate areas in the world. The highest microbial densities occur in the northeastern part of the Jiaozhou Bay, around the mouths of Loushan and Licun Rivers and the Hongdao aquacultural farming areas, suggesting that the degree and characteristics of pollutions, along with geographical and hydrological effects, may be important determinants affecting the abundance and distribution of bacteria in the Jiaozhou Bay. Bacterial communities inside and outside of the Jiaozhou Bay can be grouped into three classes based on T-RFLP patterns and cluster analyses. Stations at the water channel of the bay mouth and outside, such as D1, D3, D5, D6 and D7, are grouped together to stand for the outside bacterial community interacting with the environment outside of the Jiaozhou Bay. Stations of the innermost side of the Jiaozhou Bay, such as A3, A5, B2 and Y1, are grouped together to stand for the residential bacteria community. Stations C1, C3 and CA are grouped together and may stand for the transitional bacterial assemblage between the residential community and the outside community. However, there is no such a defined relationship for the case of cyanobacterial diversity, indicating the fact that cyanobacteria are more flexible and adaptable to all kinds of conditions.

宁波沿海陆源排污口蓝藻(Cyanobacteria)和裸藻纲(Euglenoidea)生物的分布特点

采用高通量454焦磷酸测序方法对宁波沿海2个重点排污口、8个一般排污口的20个站位水样进行分析,得到2011年的3月、5月、8月和10月份各排污口蓝藻和含叶绿体单细胞生物的分布情况。研究结果表明:宁波沿海陆源排污口中含叶绿体单细胞生物数量最多,占91.857%,包括眼虫门(Euglenozoa)、绿藻门(Chlorophyta)、隐藻门(Cryptophyta)生物。其中主要为眼虫门的裸藻纲(Euglenoidea)生物占90.08%。蓝藻门的集球藻目(Synechococcophycideae)和颤藻亚目(Oscillatoriophycideae)含量相对较多,分别占5.70%和1.79%;排污口中裸藻纲生物数量季节性差异比较大,3月份、8月份数量相对较多,5月份和10月份较少,推测这类生物的数量与季节性温度变化有关;各排污口污染物、这两类生物检出量和种类有一定差异,在氮磷含量高的排污口(如S9号)其检出量并不高,推测检出量与排污口的主要污染物中氨氮含量没有直接关系,可能受氮磷比的影响。

Removal of heavy metals from mine water by cyanobacterial calcification

The influence of different illumination intensities on cyanobacterial calcification induced removal of heavy metals from contaminated mine water was studied. Cyanobacterial calcification experiments were performed using a growth medium intended to simulate contaminated mine water. The results indicate that calcification can promote the removal of heavy metal ions. As the illumination intensity became stronger calcification rates increased and the removal of Zn2+ and Cd2+ became more obvious. When the illumination intensity was 10000 lux the removal of Pb2+ was the largest observed: stronger or weaker illumination reduced the amount of lead removed. The removal of three different heavy metals complies with an index function. For identical illumination intensities different ions were removed to different degrees.

Monitoring cyanobacteria-dominant algal blooms in eutrophicated Taihu Lake in China with synthetic aperture radar images

Monitoring algal blooms by optical remote sensing is limited by cloud cover.In this study,synthetic aperture radar(SAR) was deployed with the aim of monitoring cyanobacteria-dominant algal blooms in Taihu Lake in cloudy weather.The study shows that dark regions in the SAR images caused by cyanobacterial blooms damped the microwave backscatter of the lake surface and were consistent with the regions of algal blooms in quasi-synchronous optical images,confirming the applicability of SAR for detection of surface blooms.Low backscatter may also be associated with other factors such as low wind speeds,resulting in interference when monitoring algal blooms using SAR data alone.After feature extraction and selection,the dark regions were classified by the support vector machine method with an overall accuracy of 67.74%.SAR can provide a reference point for monitoring cyanobacterial blooms in the lake,particularly when weather is not suitable for optical remote sensing.Multi-polarization and multi-band SAR can be considered for use in the future to obtain more accurate information regarding algal blooms from SAR data.

Variation of phytoplankton community before an induced cyanobacterial(Arthrospira platensis) bloom

A cyanobacterial （Arthrospira platensis） bloom was induced in situ by nutrient manipulation in an enclosure. The succession of the phytoplankton community and the water chemistry variations before the appearance of bloom, as well as their relationship, were investigated. The cell pigment variations were studied simultaneously. The Pearson＇s correlation analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between water chemistry and green algal or cyanobacterial composition, indicating that water chemistry variations were not suitable to be used as indicators for cyanobacterial-bloom early-warning. However, the diversity index of the phytoplankton community decreased sharply before the bloom appeared. Therefore, the dynamics of phytoplankton community was put forward to be an indicator for cyanobacterial-bloom early-warning. In addition, the cell pigment variations represented the changes of community structure, which should be useful for studying the dynamics of phytoplankton community.

Community Structures of Phytoplankton with Emphasis on Toxic Cyanobacteria in an Ohio Inland Lake during Bloom Season

The community structures of phytoplankton are important factors and indicators of lake water quality. Harmful algal blooms severely impact water supply, recreational activities and wildlife habitat. This study aimed to examine the phytoplankton composition and variations using microscopy, and identify harmful Cyanobacteria in weekly samples taken from four sites at Harsha Lake in southwest Ohio. Over the course of the summer in 2015, the phytoplankton of Harsha Lake consisted mainly of 13 taxa belonging to Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cryptophyta, Cyanobacteria, Dinophyta and Euglenophyta. Their significant successions started with Bacillariophyta and/or Chlorophyta, then bloomed with Cyanobacteria and ended with Chlorophyta and/or Dinophyta. Cyanobacteria members: Microcystis, Planktothrix, Dolichospermum, Aphanizomenon, Cylindrospermopsis, and Oscillatoria from the Cyanophyceae were identified to be dominant genera. These organisms varied spatially and temporally in similar patterns along with the variations of nutrients and formed the summer bloom with the total biomasses ranging from 0.01 to 114.89 mg L-1 with mean of 22.88 mg L-1. M. aeruginosa and P. rubescens were revealed as the microcystin producers, while A. circinalis and Aphanizomenon sp. were identified as a saxitoxin producer through cloning and sequencing PCR products of mcyA, mcyE and sxtA genes. The biomasses of phytoplankton, Cyanobacteria and Microcystis were positively correlated to nutrients, especially to total nitrogen. The total ELISA measurement for microcystin positively correlated with Cyanobacteria (R2 = 0.66, P Microcystis (R2 = 0.64, P 2 = 0.59, P < 0.0001). The basic information on the occurrence and biomasses of Cyanobacteria and total phytoplankton, and the analysis for toxic species, which were the first report for the inland water in Ohio, USA, will document the succession patterns of phytoplankton and toxin production over a season and provide data to predict risk occurrence to both human and ecological factors.

Spatial and temporal variations in cyanobacteria and microcystins in Aha Reservoir,Southwest China

Toxic cyanobacteria(TCB) are well-known worldwide for their adverse impacts on humans. Species compositions and seasonal variations of TCB in reservoirs depend on interactions between physical and chemical factors. This study was conducted to evaluate the water quality in the Aha Reservoir, Southwest China, focusing on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. Water samples were collected weekly or biweekly from May to September of 2015 and used to delineate temporal variations in density and distribution of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the reservoir. Toxic cyanobacteria identified consisted of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Pseudanabaena limnetica, Cylindrospermopsis sp., and Microcystis sp., with Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Pseudanabaena limnetica being the most common and significant toxic genera. The total biomass of cyanobacteria was 17.0 mg/L. Identification and quantification of microcystin variants were conducted by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) using a system equipped with a photodiode array detector. Microcystin levels were between 0–3.0 μg/L, MC-RR was around 0–3.0 μg/L and MC-LR was approximately 0–0.9 μg/L. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the investigated reservoirs should be monitored regularly to minimize potential health risks to the human population.

Polyphasic examination on Merismopedia tenuissima CHAB 7021 from Ganjiang River,China revealed the polyphyly of the genus Merismopedia(Cyanobacteria)

Species in the cyanobacterial genus Merismopedia are present in freshwaters at different trophic levels, with some species even as the components of cyanobacterial blooms. However, species diversity in this genus was not fully verified by molecular investigation and polyphasic taxonomic studies. In this study, Merismopedia-like strain tenuissima CHAB 7021 was isolated from Ganjiang River in Jiangxi Province, China, and polyphasic characterization of this strain was performed by morphological observation, ultrastructural examination, chemical detection of pigments and phylogenetic analysis based on 16 S rRNA gene sequences. Morphological identification of the strain was supported by the ultrastructural features, as the tiny species Merismopedia tenuissima Lemmermann. The phylogeny based on 16 S rRNA gene sequences revealed at least three clades formed by the strains of Merismopedia. The three M. tenuissima strains including M. tenuissima CHAB 7021 was gathered in clade III with distant relationship to the clade I formed by the six Merismopedia strains including the type species M. punctata, and such a genetic distance may propose Merismopedia tenuissima to separate from Merismopedia genus. However intermixture relationship in between strains of M. punctate and M. glauca in the phylogenetic tree still complicated the taxonomic status in the genus Merismopedia. The process for taxonomic revision in the Merismopedia genus still await for examination and further information on more strains of type species M. punctata.