INVESTIGADORES
MATALONI Maria Gabriela
artículos
Título:
New and interesting species of the genus Muelleria (Bacillariophyta) from the Antarctic Region and South Africa.
Autor/es:
VAN DE VIJVER, B.; MATALONI, G.; STANISH, L.; SPAULDING, S.A.
Revista:
PHYCOLOGIA
Editorial:
International Phycological Society
Referencias:
Año: 2010 vol. 49 p. 22 - 41
ISSN:
0031-8884
Resumen:
During a survey of the terrestrial diatom flora of some sub-Antarctic islands in the southern Indian and Atlantic Oceans
and of the Antarctic continent, more than 15 taxa belonging to the genus Muelleria were observed. Nine of these taxa
are described as new species using light and scanning electron microscopy. Comments are made on their systematic
position and how they are distinguished from other species in the genus. Additionally, two previously unrecognized taxa
within the genus were discovered in samples from South Africa. One of these, Muelleria taylorii Van de Vijver &
Cocquyt sp. nov., is new to science; the other, Muelleria vandermerwei (Cholnoky) Van de Vijver & Cocquyt nov. comb.,
had been included in the genus Diploneis. The large number of new Muelleria taxa on the (sub)-Antarctic locations is not
surprising. Species in Muelleria occur rarely in collections; in many habitats, it is unusual to find more than 12 valves in
any slide preparation. As a result, records are scarce. The practice of force-fitting (shoehorning) specimens into
descriptions from common taxonomic keys (and species drift) results in European species, such as M. gibbula and M.
linearis, being applied to Antarctic forms in ecological studies. Finally, the typical terrestrial habitats of soils, mosses
and ephemeral water bodies of most of these taxa have been poorly studied in the past.