Diverse and Unique Picocyanobacteria in Chesapeake Bay, Revealed by 16S-23S rRNA Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequences

rRNA internal transcribed spacer phylogeny showed that Chesapeake Bay is populated with diverse Synechococcus strains, including members of the poorly studied marine cluster B. Marine cluster B prevailed in the upper bay, while marine cluster A was common in the lower bay. Interestingly, marine cluster B Synechococcus included phycocyanin- and phycoerythrin-rich strains.