Staurosira longwanensis sp. nov., a new araphid diatom (Bacillariophyta) from Northeast China

Abstract

Staurosira longwanensis sp. nov. is described from Sihailongwan maar lake, northeast China. The morphology of this new species is documented with light and scanning electron micrographs and discussed in comparison with several small species of Fragilariaceae. Staurosira longwanensis belongs in the genus Staurosira since it shares many features with taxa currently ascribed to it such as the position and characteristics of the spines, the characteristics of the areolae and apical pore fields. Apart from the type locality, S. longwanensis also occurs in another volcanic lake in northeast China, with circumneutral and oligotrophic water. Diatom analysis of the long sedimentary record retrieved from Lake Sihailongwan indicates that S. longwanensis has been present at low relative abundances in this lake at least since the Late Pleistocene. © Czech Phycological Society (2014).