Algae and stomatocysts associated with carnivorous plants. First report of chrysophyte stomatocysts from Virginia, USA

Abstract

Wołowski K., Piątek J. and Płachno B.J. 2011. Algae and stomatocysts associated with carnivorous plants. First report of chrysophyte stomatocysts from Virginia, USA. Phycologia 50: 511–519. DOI: 10.2216/10-94.1

This paper includes data about chrysophyte stomatocysts and algae occurring together with carnivorous plants (Utricularia and Aldrovanda). In the examined material from Fredericksburg Turnpike, Woodford, Virginia, USA, among various groups of algae 12 different morphotypes of chrysophyte stomatocysts were found. Seven of the stomatocysts are reported for the first time from Virginia (stomatocysts 42, 57, 86, 135, 150, 228 and 234). Furthermore, two morphotypes are new to the USA (stomatocysts 142 and 214), and two morphotypes are described as new to science (stomatocysts 2 and 3). The new morphotypes were described on the basis of 11 and five specimens, respectively. All reported morphotypes are briefly described and illustrated using scanning electron microscopy. The list of algal taxa occurring together with stomatocysts and inside the traps of Utricularia purpurea is also presented.

Key Words::

• Algae
• Aquatic carnivorous plants
• Chrysophyte stomatocysts
• Morphotypes
• SEM
• Stomatocyst morphology
• Utricularia purpurea

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BJP is grateful for support from the Foundation for Polish Sciences (Start Programme) and Prof. Douglas Darnowski (Indiana University Southeast) for his hospitality. The stay of BJP in the USA was financed by a grant to DWD from the Indiana University/Indiana University Southeast Large Grant Program). We are also grateful to the Philip M. Sheridan (Meadowview Biological Research Station, Virginia, USA) for hosting and supporting BJP to study algae and carnivorous plants at Meadowview Biological Research Station. We thank Dr. Marcin Piątek (W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Kraków, Poland) for checking some cyst identifications and improvement of the first version of the manuscript and to James M. Ehrman (Mount Alison University, New Brunswick Canada) for polishing the English version of this work. The work was carried out within the scientific project No. N 304 220135 supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.