ECOPHYSIOLOGY AND SPECIES-DIVERSITY OF CYANOBACTERIA FROM LAKE-MAGADI

More than 10 species of cyanobacteria were isolated from the hypersali ne soda Lake Magadi, and the ecophysiology of most of them was studied . It was shown that a change in the species composition of oxygenic ph ototrophs should occur upon dilution of the brine. Under these conditi ons, filamentous forms dominate. When the lake salinity is 10 - 25%, a change of the morphotypes of unicellular cyanobacteria in the communi ty may occur. The diversity of the morphological forms observed does n ot always reflect the true diversity of species due to markedly pronou nced polymorphism of unicellular organisms.