Abstract
Two new species of cheilostome Bryozoa are described: Pentapora boreale sp. nov. and Microporella svalbardensis sp. nov. Both are illustrated using scanning electron microscopy. The genus Pentapora is recorded for the first time from the Arctic realm. Pentapora boreale is especially characterized by a columnar umbo present proximal to the primary orifice and a straight‐edged lyrula developed just within the proximal border of the orifice. Microporella svalbardensis is distinguished by a large, crescentic ascopore, crossed by thin radial bars, with a prominent umbo situated just proximal to it. Colonies of both species encrusted pebbles, and M. svalbardensis occurred additionally on biogenic carbonate substrata.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The first author would like to thank Mary Spencer Jones (The Natural History Museum, London; NHM) and Dr Claus Nielsen (Zoological Museum, Copenhagen; ZM) for hospitality and professional support during a stay at both museums. Holotype material was collected during the PK project (no. NP‐51/2001) in Ny‐Alesund Large Scale Facility (LSF). Thanks are also due to Dr Adam Sokołowski (Gdańsk University, Poland), Bartosz Witalis (KDP Skalar) and Dr David Barnes (British Antarctic Survey) for help with sample collection. We would also like to thank referees for comments leading to a much improved manuscript. Work in London, Copenhagen and Ny Alesund was supported by a grant from the European Commission's programme “Transnational Access to Major Research Infrastructures” to SYS‐RESOURCES (NHM), COBICE (ZM) and Ny Alesund LSF. This study was also financially supported by grant 6 PO4E 044 21 from the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research.