Departmento de Biología
Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Laboratorio de Biología Comparada de Protistas
Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. II, 4 Piso,
C.P. 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone - FAX: (5411) – 4682-3240
E. mail: conforti@bg.fcen.uba.ar

Euglenoid Taxonomy, Ultrastructure and Ecophysiology

Our research focuses on different aspects of the euglenoid flagellates. Since 1974, we have been describing numerous taxa founded in diverse freshwater bodies from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Korea, Spain and U.S.A. We have included in our studies optical and SEM ultrastructural observations.

The growth of euglenoids in environments high in organic matter content has been known for some time. Our own experiences confirm their presence in bodies of water highly polluted by organic matter. In some cases, the euglenoids were the only phytoplankton group found in these environments. Studying samples from the Matanza River and its principal tributary, the Morales Stream, in Buenos Aires, Argentina we demonstrated their importance in polluted areas. After these observations, we studied the effect of excess organic matter on five euglenoids species and the effects of heavy metals and organometalic compounds on ultrastructure and biology of Euglena gracilis.

Our data demonstrates the environmental importance of the euglenoids and suggests that they might serve as excellent bioindicators of environment changes, not only by their presence or absence, but also by measuring the cellular changes that occur under differing environmental conditions. For all these reasons, during the few last years we have started investigations on the ecophysiological behavior of euglenoids and the effects of different pollutants on these organisms.

Representative Publications:

TELL, G. & V. CONFORTI. l986. Euglenophyta pigmentadas de la Argentina. 
	Bibl. Phycologica, ed. CRAMER, Alemania, 301 pp., l025 figs.

CONFORTI, V. 1993. Study of the euglenophyta from the Camaleão lake (Manaus, Brazil) 
	I. Trachelomonas Ehr.  Rev.  Hydrobiol.  trop. 26(1): 3-18.  

CONFORTI, V., P. WALNE & J. DUNLAP. 1993. Comparative ultrastructure and elemental 
	compositions of envelopes of Trachelomonas and Strombomonas (Euglenophyta).  
	Acta Protozool. 33: 71-78. 

CONFORTI, V. & G. J. JOO. 1994. Taxonomic and ultrastructural study of Trachelomonas Ehr. 
	and Strombomonas Defl. (Euglenophyta) from oxbow lakes in Alabama and Indiana 
	(U.S.A.).  Cryptogamie, Algol. 15(4): 267-286. 

CONFORTI, V. 1994. Study of the euglenophyta from the Camaleão lake. III. Euglena, 
	Lepocinclis, Phacus.  Rev. Hydrobiol. Trop. 27(1): 3-21.

CONFORTI, V., ALBERGHINA, J. & E. GONZALEZ URDA. 1995. Structural changes and 
	dynamics of phytoplankton community along a highly polluted river of Argentina 
	(Matanza - Riachuelo). Jour.  Aquatic Ecosystem Health 4: 59-75.

CONFORTI, V. 1998. Morphological changes of Euglenophyta in response to organic enrichment.  
	Hydrobiol. 369/370: 277-285.