The genus Acaryochloris is unique among phototrophic organisms due to the dominance of chlorophyll d in its photosynthetic reaction centres and light-harvesting proteins. This allows Acaryochloris to capture light energy for photosynthesis over an extended spectrum of up to ~760 nm in the near infra-red (NIR) spectrum. Acaryochloris sp. has been reported in a variety of ecological niches, ranging from polar to tropical shallow aquatic sites. Here, we report a new Acarychloris strain isolated from an NIR-enriched stratified microbial layer 4-6 mm under the surface of stromatolite mats located in the Hamelin Pool of Shark Bay, Western Australia. Pigment analysis by spectrometry/fluorometry, flow cytometry and spectral confocal microscopy identifies unique patterns in pigment content that likely reflect niche adaption. For example, unlike the original A. marina species (type strain MBIC11017), this new strain, Acarychloris LARK001, shows little change in the chlorophyll d/a ratio in response to changes in light wavelength, displays a different Fv/Fm response and lacks detectable levels of phycocyanin. Indeed, 16S rRNA analysis supports the identity of the A. marina LARK001 strain as close to but distinct from from the A. marina HICR111A strain first isolated from Heron Island and previously found on the Great Barrier Reef under coral rubble on the reef flat. Taken together, A. marina LARK001 is a new cyanobacterial strain adapted to the stromatolite mats in Shark Bay.

Australian Centre for Astrobiology University of New South Wales Sydney 2052 Australia

Centre for Virus Research Westmead Institute for Medical Research University of Sydney Sydney 2145 Australia

Climate Change Cluster University of Technology Sydney Sydney 2007 Australia

Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology Institute of Hydrobiology Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic

School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney 2052 Australia

School of Earth and Planetary Sciences Curtin University Perth 6102 Australia

School of Life Sciences University of Technology Sydney Sydney 2007 Australia

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences University of Technology Sydney Sydney 2007 Australia

School of Medical Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney 2052 Australia

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