Research

extremophilic cyanobacteria and algae

In addition to our main research topics, we sometimes focus onto somewhat special or unusual habitats, which often represent more or less extreme environment for cyanobacteria and algae, for example the following environments:

  • Thermal springs - here we focus mainly on the study of cyanobacteria from material from Yellowstone National Park, we try to characterize species of cyanobacteria using classical methods in combination with methods of molecular biology; we also focus on the flora of cyanobacteria and algae of thermal springs in the area of ​​Karlovy Vary

  • Caves - this habitat represents an extreme habitat for cyanobacteria and algae mainly due to limitation by lack of light; we are interested in the biodiversity of cyanobacteria and algae in various microhabitats in caves in the Czech Republic and also the study of communities growing in the vicinity of artificial lighting, the so-called lampenflora

  • Table mountains - the table mountains in the Guyanese Highlands are among the oldest geological formations on Earth and represent an extreme habitat that is generally very poor in nutrients and at the same time these and mountains are isolated islands; we try to characterize species of cyanobacteria and algae from these mountains using classical methods in combination with methods of molecular biology

  • Wetted walls - we mean rocks, walls etc. This environment is quite hostile to life, there is a high level of UV radiation, huge fluctuations in temperature and humidity huge and so on. The diversity and ecology of these organisms is extremely interesting and little known.

  • Cooling towers - a special industrial branch of the studies of wetted walls, typical is a high humidity of these habitats. Algae and cyanobacterie often cause considerable financial damage to these towers, thanks to that fact the operators of these facilities are very interested in the results of these researches.

Selected publications:

  • Kaštovský J, Fučíková K, Veselá J, Brewer Carías Ch, Vegas-Vilarrúbia T (2019): Algae. In: Rull, V., Vegas-Vilarrúbia, T., Huber, O. & Señaris, C. (eds.). 2019. Biodiversity of Pantepui, the pristine ‘Lost World’ of the Neotropical Guiana Highlands. Elsevier, Cambridge, 95-120. ISBN 978-0-12815-591-2.

  • Hauer, T., Čapek, P. & Böhmová, P. (2016): Main photoautotrophic components of biofilms in natural draft cooling towers. - Folia Microbiologica 61(3): 255-260. DOI: 10.1007/s12223-015-0429-4

  • Kaštovský, J. Veselá, J., Bohunická, M., Fučíková, K., Štenclová, L. & Brewer-Carías, Ch. (2016): New and unusual species of cyanobacteria, diatoms and green algae, with a description of a new genus Ekerewekia gen. nov. (Chlorophyta) from the table mountain Churí-tepui, Chimantá Massif (Venezuela). Phytotaxa 247 (3): 153-180. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.247.3.1

  • Kaštovský, J., Berrendero E.G., Hladil, J. Johansen J.R. (2014): Cyanocohniella calida gen. et sp. nov. (Cyanobacteria: Aphanizomenonaceae) a new cyanobacterium from the thermal springs from Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Phytotaxa 181(5): 279–292. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.181.5.3

  • Kaštovský, J., Fučíková, K.,Hauer, T., Bohunická, M. (2011): Microvegetation on the top of Mt. Roraima, Venezuela. Fottea 11 (1): 171-186

  • Hauer, T. (2010): Phototrophic biofilms on the interior walls of the concrete Iterson-type cooling towers. - Journal of Applied Phycology 22(6): 733-736. DOI: 10.1007/s10811-010-9513-y

  • Fučíková K. & Kaštovský J.(2009): Vincularia roraimae (Zygnematophyceae, Desmidiales), gen. et sp. nov. from the top of Mt. Roraima, Venezuela. – Nova Hedwigia 88(1-2): 49-56.

  • Kaštovský J. & Johansen J.R. (2008): Mastigocladus laminosus (Stigonematales, Cyanobacteria): phylogenetic relationship of strains from thermal springs to soil-inhabiting genera of the order and taxonomic implications for the genus. Phycologia 47: 307–320

  • Kaštovský, J. , Komárek J. (2001): Phototrophic microvegetation of thermal springs in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. – In: Elster, J.; Seckbach, J.; Vincent, W.F. & Lhotský,O. (eds.): Algae and extreme environments. – Nova Hedwigia, Beih. 123:107-119.

  • Kaštovský, J. (1997): Řasy v Mladečských a Javoříčských jeskyních (Algae Flora in Mladeč and Javoříčko Caves). Živa 3/97 : 101-102 .