Diversity of Cyanoprokaryota/Cyanobacteria in Ukraine in the context of an integrative approach to their ta xonomy

Cyanobacteria (Cyanoprokaryota, Cyanophyta, blue-green algae) are the ol dest photosynthetic organisms, known for high morphological diversity, a unique functional and biological organization, and an imp ortant role in the biosphere. Over 170 year s of cyanofloristic studies in Ukraine brought extensive data concerning their species and taxonomic composition, ecological an d geographical distribution (Vinogradova, 2005). A total of 64 taxa (33 species and 31 i.s. t.) new to science were described from the territor y of Ukraine; they include AnabaenopsisarnoldiiAptekar, Calothrix bugensis Poljanskij, No stoc edaphicum Kondrateva, Oscillatoriatr ichoidesSzafer, etc.Due to the efforts of the fam ous Ukrainian cyanophycologist Professor Kondratyeva, high-quality identification manual s of Cyanophyta of Ukraine were published (Kondratyeva, 1968; Kondratyeva, Kovalenko, 1975; Kondratyeva et al., 1984) promo ting further versatile research of this group. By 2006, 626 species (781 infraspecific taxa) of cyanobacteria from 77 genera were recorded(Algae of Ukraine, 2006). All these records were done using morphological classification, which was generally accepted at that time. However, the new paradigm of cyanobacterial systematics requires new methods and approaches for the study of their diversity in the nature. Now, the polyphasic or integrative approach, which includes the molec ular sequencing, morphological identification and ecological criterion, is obligatory for the characterization of both the strains a nd natural populations of cyanobacteria (Komá rek, 2016). This approach, in combinati on with new molecular markers and monophyletic species concept has causeda revol ution in the taxonomy of cyanobacteria and the appearance of a great number of new taxa, incl. from Ukraine (Vinogradova et al., 20 17). The application of both morthological and molecular methods in recent studies of biolo gical soil crusts of coastal and inland areas o f Ukraine has significantly improved the reliabilit y of the received floristic data(Mikhailyuk et al., 2016, 2018; Vinogradova et al., 2017). The novelties of the cyanobacterial classification and the use of an integrative approach in floristic studies are discussed in detail.