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Abstract:
The marine araphid diatom Pteroncola carlinii sp. nov. from a coastal Antarctic environment was described based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations. The new species was found as solitary cells in the phytoplankton and epiphytic on green algal filaments or diatom chains. It was distinguished from P. inane, the only recognized species, primarily by a well developed sternum, a hyaline mantle, apical pore fields composed of three horizontal rows of pores, a single rimoportula per valve, and a lower striae density. Two morphotypes of P. carlinii were distinguished based upon the ultrastructure of alveolate (chambered) striae in external view. While most specimens presented striae formed by transapically elongated slits, others showed striae composed of a row of small areolae. A revised description of Pteroncola was provided as well as a comparison with related genera in the Fragilariaceae, such as Brandinia, Catacombas, Fragilaria, Fossula, Hyalosynedra, Staurosirella and Thalassioneis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank the Instituto Antártico Argentino (IAA) and the personnel of Carlini Station for logistical support to carry out the Antarctic campaigns. We extend our special gratitude to Marcelo Hernando and Oscar González for field sampling, Patricia Sarmiento from the MEB service (Museo de La Plata), and Friedel Hinz (Hustedt Collection, Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany). Two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged for their helpful comments. This survey was supported from the IAA, the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT) through grants PIP 01734 CONICET to M.E. Ferrario and PICTO 05–35562 ANPCyT to I.R. Schloss.