Taxonomic survey of cyanobacteria of Urmia Lake (NW Iran) and their adjacent ecosystems based on morphological and molecular methods

Abstract

In the present study, the cyanobacterial flora of Urmia Lake (NW Iran), one of the largest salt lakes in the world and adjacent rivers is investigated. Urmia Lake comprises different micro-organisms including cyanobacteria which have a major role in aquatic ecosystems. Cyanobacterial samples were collected in 2008–09 from Urmia Lake and its surrounding ecosystems. All samples were cultivated, isolated and identified using morphological keys basically and also molecular methods via 16S rRNA sequencing in some cases.