Orthoseira helvetica sp. nov. - a new diatom (Bacillariophyceae) from the Swiss Alps

This paper describes a new diatom species (Orthoseira helvetica sp. nov.) found in the Swiss Alps at an elevation over 2600 m a.s.l. The diatom was recorded at the Macun plateau, Swiss National Park, from samples of terrestrial and wet semi-terrestrial mosses near the stream splash zone. The diatom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inDiatom research Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 77 - 87
Main Authors Peszek, Łukasz, Robinson, Christopher T., Rybak, Mateusz, Kawecka, Barbara
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Spanish
Published Nottingham Taylor & Francis 03.04.2023
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
alpine environments
Aquatic plants
centric diatom
Collars
Diatoms
Electron microscopy
Macun lakes
Mediophyceae
National parks
New species
Orthoseira
Scanning electron microscopy
Shape
Silica
Silicon dioxide
Spines
Splash zone
Swiss National Park
terrestrial diatoms
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Summary:This paper describes a new diatom species (Orthoseira helvetica sp. nov.) found in the Swiss Alps at an elevation over 2600 m a.s.l. The diatom was recorded at the Macun plateau, Swiss National Park, from samples of terrestrial and wet semi-terrestrial mosses near the stream splash zone. The diatom has a unique set of features and is easily recognized under light and scanning electron microscopy. The most distinctive feature is the presence of a prominent silica collar in a 'rose flower' shape rounding each carinoportulae and an additional silica collar on the areolae (first 3-4 rows) bordering the hyaline area. The valve diameter of O. helvetica sp. nov. is 7.5-26.5 µm and possesses 2-3 (usually 3) carinoportulae. Linking spines at the valve face/mantle junction are present, having a simple basis and being triangular in shape.
ISSN:0269-249X
2159-8347
DOI:10.1080/0269249X.2023.2230972