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Pleurocapsa

Generic name: PLEUROCAPSA Thuret in Hauck, 1885. Rabenhorst´s Kryptogamenfl., ed. 2, 2: 515.
Synonyms: MYXODERMA Hansgirg, 1890. Phys. algol. Mitt. Sitzungsb. kgl. bohm. Acad. 1890: 91.
Diagnosis:
Type species: Pleurocapsa fuliginosa Hauck 1885
Descriptions:
Komárek & Anagnostidis (1998): Thallus creeping on the substrate (mainly on stones), crustose, in a thin layer or in three-dimensional clusters, composed of irregular groups of cells (chroococcacean stages), from which irregular or radial rows of cells grow, sometimes irregularly and pseudodichotomously branched; in several species the pseudofllaments are partly endolithic. Rows of cells uni- or multiseriate, enveloped by more or less thin, firm, sometimes lamellate and yellowish-brownish coloured sheaths which are laterally confluent. Cells irregular, of variable size, sometimes (in pseudofilaments) slightly elongate, with homogeneous or slightly granular
content, sometimes with several prominent granules, blue-green, pale blue-green or pinkish.
Komárek (1992): Unicellular - pseudofilamentous; thallus creeping on the substrate (mainly on stones), crust-like or in a thin layer, composed from irregular groups of cells (chroococcacean state), from which grow irregularly or radially rows of cells, sometimes irregularly branched; in several species are the pseudofilaments endolithic; rows of cells uni- or multicellular, enveloped by more or less thin, firm, sometimes lamellated and yellowish-brownish coloured sheaths, which confluent together by their sides. Cells irregular, of different size, sometimes (in pseudofilaments) slightly elongated, with homogeneous or slightly granular content, sometimes with several prominent granules, blue- green, pale blue-green or pinkish.
Genotype differences, molecular data:
Reproduction strategies, life cycles, cell division:
Komárek & Anagnostidis (1998):Cells divide irregularly by binary fission in various planes, in pseudofilaments predominantly crosswise. The lengthwise division of apical cells in pseudofilaments resulting in pseudodichotomous divarication is a typical feature of the genus (fig. 610). Enlarged cells, which arise in different parts of thallus, sometimes divide into baeocytes. Reproduction bybaeocytes.
Komárek (1992):Cells divide irregularly in different planes; enlarged cells from different parts of thallus divide sometimes in nanocytes. Reproduction by nanocytes.
Ultrastructure:
Taxonomic position, higher hierarchy:
Cyanophyceae, Chroococcales, Hyellaceae, Hyelloideae
Notes to taxonomy, misinterpretations:
Waterbury & Stanier (1978) studied twelve Pleurocapsa strains (eleven of marine origin, one moderate thermophile from a hot spring) and divided them into two subgroups according to morphological changes during the life cycle and reproduction strategy (see also Waterbury 1989). However, the «subgroup I» corresponds rather to the life cycle of Hyella. According to their description, at least three traditional species from the subgroup I (mcluding the mentioned type from hot springs) and one from the subgroup II are recognizable. Unfortunately, they did not define their strains (and species) taxonomically.
Ecology, ecophysiology, ecological significance:
Komárek (1992): Type species and several other taxa known from the sea littorals (surf- or intertidal zones); freshwater species known usually from clear mounta,in streams or from the stony surf zones of not polluted lakes and water reservoirs, all over the world. Majority of species grow on limestone substrates.
Physiology and biochemistry:
Distribution, endemism, problematic citations:
Reference strain:
Infrageneric scheme, species concept:

List of species:
Pleurocapsa africana Gayral et Mazancourd 1960
Pleurocapsa aurantiaca Geitler 1932
Pleurocapsa brasiliensis Schmidle 1901
Pleurocapsa brevissima (Ercegović) Komárek et Anagnostidis 1995
Pleurocapsa concharum Hansgirg 1891
Pleurocapsa crepidinum Collins 1901
Pleurocapsa fuliginosa Hauck 1885
Pleurocapsa fusca Godward 1937
Pleurocapsa hangirgiana (Ercegović) Komárek et Anagnostidis 1995
Pleurocapsa magna Weber van Bosse 1913
Pleurocapsa mayori Setchel 1924
Pleurocapsa minor Hansgirg 1891
Pleurocapsa minuta Geitler 1932
Pleurocapsa mucosa (Ercegović) Komárek et Anagnostidis 1995¨
Pleurocapsa muralis Lagerheim in Wittrock et al. 1893
Pleurocapsa parenchymatica Geitler 1935
Pleurocapsa usteriana Schmidle 1904
Pleurocapsa violacea Weber van Bosse 1925

Unclear taxa:
Dermocarpa violacea Crouan sensu J. et G. Feldmann 1953
Pleurocapsa deeveyi Drouet 1942
Pleurocapsa rivularis Hansgirg 1893
Pleurocapsa varia (A. Braun) Drouet et Daily in Daily 1942

Excludenda:
Pleurocapsa cuprea Hansgirg 1892 - according to Caisová 2006 is P. minor an eucaryotic alga

Keys:
List of stains:
Drawings:
Komárek 1992
Application technology:
Literature:
  2.1 taxonomy: Ercegović 1930, Geitler 1932, Frémy 1934, Geitler & Ruttner 1935, Starmach 1936, Geitler 1942, Kosinskaja 1948, Bourrelly 1970, Bourrelly 1972, Komárek 1972, Bourrelly 1977, Waterbury & Stanier 1978, Rippka & al. 1979, Bourrelly 1984, Kondrateva et al. 1988, Waterbury 1989, Komárek 1992, Komárek & Anagnostidis 1998
  2.2 cytomorphology:
  2.3 16S rRNA sequencing:
  2.4 biology and life cycles:
  2.5 ecology: