Pinnularia schoelynckiana, a new limnoterrestrial diatom species (Bacillariophyta) from the sub-Antarctic Iles Kerguelen (southern Indian Ocean)

ABSTRACT

An unknown Pinnularia taxon was recorded during a survey of the limno-terrestrial diatom flora of some hot springs in the Val Travers area (Grande Terre, Iles Kerguelen, sub-Antarctic region). The morphology of the species was investigated using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Based on these results, the species could not be identified using the currently available literature and is therefore described as a new species: Pinnularia schoelynckiana sp. nov. The new species is characterized by rhombic-lanceolate valves, radiate, geniculate striae changing into strongly convergent near the apices and an undulating, lateral raphe. A detailed morphological comparison is made with similar Pinnularia species, described from the Antarctic Region and worldwide. Brief notes on the associated diatom flora and its ecology are added.

KEYWORDS:

• Pinnularia
• sub-Antarctica
• morphology
• new species
• hot springs

Acknowledgments

Sampling on Kerguelen has been made possible thanks to the logistic and financial support of the French Polar Institute-Paul-Emile Victor in the framework of the research program 136 (Marc Lebouvier and Yves Frenot). Prof. Luc Ector and an anonymous reviewer are thanked for their excellent help in ameliorating this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bart Van de Vijver

Bart Van de Vijver is a full-time researcher at the Meise Botanic Garden, Belgium, and a part-time professor at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. His research focuses mainly on the taxonomy, morphology and biogeography of Antarctic freshwater and terrestrial diatoms. He has been studying non-marine diatoms in various parts of the Antarctic region for more than 20 years. He has described almost 400 new taxa and revised an additional 250 taxa. Contribution: identification of diatom species, discussion of results and writing and editing of the manuscript.

Pieter Scholberg

Pieter Scholberg is a master student at the University of Antwerp making his Individual Project at the Meise Botanic Garden, Belgium under supervision of B. Van de Vijver. Contribution: identification and photographing of the species, discussion of results.

Marc Lebouvier

Marc Lebouvier is a research engineer at the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). He carries out his research in the program 136 “Subantarctic biodiversity, effects of climate change and biological invasions on terrestrial biota” supported by the French Polar Institute: field work and sampling at Iles Kerguelen in 2005, discussion of results and reviewing of the manuscript. Contribution: field work and sampling at Iles Kerguelen in 2005, discussion of results and reviewing of the manuscript.