New species in the genus Muelleria (Bacillariophyta) from the Maritime Antarctic Region

Abstract

During a survey of the freshwater aquatic and limno-terrestrial diatom flora of the Maritime Antarctic Region, six taxa belonging to the genus Muelleria that could not be identified were observed. Based on detailed LM and SEM observations, these six taxa have been described as new taxa: Muelleria desseiniana sp. nov., M. levkoviana sp. nov., M. nogae sp. nov., M. spauldingiana sp. nov., M. subsabbei sp. nov. and M. undulatoides sp. nov. Comments are made on their taxonomic position and how they can be distinguished from other species in this genus. Brief notes on the ecology and distribution of the six taxa are added. A compiled list of all Muelleria taxa described worldwide is included in this paper. © Czech Phycological Society (2014).