The Netherlands are a small country, characterized by a large diversity of fresh to slightly brackish, oligo- to hypereutrophic stagnant and flowing inland waters. This diversity is reflected in a remarkable richness of phytoplankton species with blue-green algae as an important component. Identification of phytoplankton frequently brings on serious problems, due to the scarcity of up-to-date floras. This book, written by an acknowledged Dutch phytoplankton expert, presents a new modern approach to the identification of phytoplankton of The Netherlands. • treats 95 species belonging to 23 genera of non-filamentous blue-green algae in the plankton of Dutch inland waters including one new genus and 15 new species • nomenclature according to modern insights and in agreement with international rules • 500 original black-and-white photographs show all the details necessary for light-microscopical identification • contains an identification key to the species and comparing every species to similar forms • information on ecology and occurrence in different water types • relevant literature references

The blue-green algae, for a long time a disregarded group of microorganisms, are now a fashionable subject for research. The possible reasons for this are various. One may be that current speculations about the origin and early evolution of life have reminded biologists that this is a group of undoubted antiquity. It has biochemical characteristics, on the one hand, which may be related to an existence on the primitive Earth and, on the other hand, it shows possible links with the green plants which are dominant today. Another reason may be that the electron microscope has revealed features of fine structure which confirm the long suspected kinship of these organisms with the bacteria. Mounting evidence that blue-green algae play an important, if unobtrusive, part in maintaining soil fertility and the often all too obvious fact that they are a nuisance in freshwater have also made their study of some economic importance. This upsurge of interest has been exhilarating, as ways of solving apparently insoluble problems have presented themselves, facts have fallen into place, and intriguing new questions have arisen. Nevertheless there is an increasing mass of specialist literature and now is the time to attempt the assembly of a unified picture of blue-green algae as living organisms. The authors hope that the result will be of use to students and research workers in various branches of botany, microbiology, and biochemistry.

A guide to state-of-the-art molecular tools for monitoring and managing the toxigenicity of cyanobacteria Runaway eutrophication and climate change has made the monitoring and management of toxigenic organisms in the world’s bodies of water more urgent than ever. In order to influence public policy regarding the detection and quantification of those organisms, it is incumbent upon scientists to raise the awareness of policy makers concerning the increased occurrence of toxigenic cyanobacteria and the threats they pose. As molecular methods can handle many samples in short time and help identify toxigenic organisms, they are reliable, cost-effective tools available for tracking toxigenic cyanobacteria worldwide. This volume arms scientists with the tools they need to track toxigenicity in surface waters and food supplies and, hopefully, to develop new techniques for managing the spread of toxic cyanobacteria. This handbook offers the first comprehensive treatment of molecular tools for monitoring toxigenic cyanobacteria. Growing out of the findings of the landmark European Cooperation in Science and Technology Cyanobacteria project (CYANOCOST), it provides detailed, practical coverage of the full array of available molecular tools and protocols, from water sampling, nucleic acid extraction, and downstream analysis—including PCR and qPCR based methods—to genotyping (DGGE), diagnostic microarrays, and community characterization using next-gen sequencing techniques. Offers an overview of the latest trends in the field, while providing a foundation for understanding and applying the tools and techniques described Provides detailed coverage of the full range of molecular tools currently available, with expert guidance on the analysis and interpretation of results Includes step-by-step guidance on standard operational procedures, including molecular tests used in environmental monitoring, with individual chapters devoted to each procedure Complements the published Handbook of Cyanobacterial Monitoring and Cyanotoxin Analysis from the CyanoCOST project This handbook is an indispensable working resource for scientists, lab technicians, and water management professionals and an excellent text/reference for graduate students and supervisors who use molecular tools. It will also be of great value to environmental health and protection officials and policy makers.

First comprehensive guide of its kind, this volume is essential for any study of freshwater algae in the British Isles.

Expanding Horizon of Cyanobacterial Biology discusses the different aspects of cyanobacteria cyanobacterial application, providing a better understanding of cyanobacterial metabolism. Chapters deal with cyanobacteria applications and explore how to exploit cyanobacterial metabolism for industrial applications. Sections cover cyanobacterial applications for the production of nanoparticles, cyanobacterial diversity, and the characterization of different assemblages such as cyanolichens and cyanobacterial endophytes, along with their ecological, morphological and physiological aspects. In addition, bioactive compounds and their applications are explored. Increasing attention has been paid by scientists across the globe to Cyanobacteria as they are ubiquitous microbes and, undoubtedly, an important organism in terms of carbon as well as nitrogen fixation. However, the research on these organisms is limited in terms of their diversity and distribution across the globe. - Provides background knowledge for researchers concerned with cyanobacterial diversity and characterization of different assemblages - Describes the exploitation possibility of cyanobacterial species for human welfare - Discusses the different aspects of cyanobacteria, cyanobacterial application and better understanding of cyanobacterial metabolism - Deals with the exploitation of cyanobacteria and their mats for bioremediation purposes - Includes cyanobacterial nanotechnology and its applications in industry and allied sectors