Diatoma kalakulensis sp. nov. – a new diatom (Bacillariophyceae) species from a high-altitude lake in the Pamir Mountains, Western China

Abstract

A new araphid diatom, Diatoma kalakulensis sp. nov., was discovered in Lake Kalakul, located in the Pamir Mountains in north-western China. The morphology and ultrastructure of this new species are described on the basis of observations made under light and electron microscopy. Compared to Diatoma tenuis, Diatoma kalakulensis is characterized by longer valves, higher stria density, wider apical ends and the position of its rimoportula.

Keywords:

• Diatoma
• Lake Kalakul
• morphometric analysis
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We thank Yue Li for his help with the scanning electron microscope. Two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged for their comments and suggestions that have helped us to improve our manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Unfortunately, the combination Distrionella germainii f. acosta has been made twice, in the same journal and issue (Flower 2005: 62; Morales et al. 2005: 133). That means that both have the same publication date. There is no indication in the published versions of which was accepted first. One way to decide between the two would be to accept Flower, as it is the first to appear in the printed copy. It is well known, however, that the sequence of authors is arranged alphabetically. Neither paper presents further images of Distrionella germainii f. acosta. While it may be of no great significance, we have accepted Flower as the author of the combination. We accept, too, that this might be further debated.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences: [grant number SKLLQG1530]; National Natural Science Foundation of China: [grant number 41403111, 41430532].