Search

The aim of this work was to present a morphological description and ecological characteristics of a rare species from the Gomphonema genus, occurring in calcium-rich waters, along with its new occurrence sites. The research was carried out in flowing waters of mountain and sub-mountain streams and rivers in Poland: the Wołosaty, the Wisłoka, the San and their tributaries. The occurrence of many rare and new to Polish flora species from the genus Gomphonema was recorded: G. cuneolus E. Reichardt, G. drutelingense E. Reichardt, G. innocens E. Reichardt, G. lateripunctatum E. Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot, G. lippertii E. Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot and G. calcifugum Lange-Bertalot & E. Reichardt. These species occur mostly in alkaline or close-to-neutral waters with medium or low electrolytic conductivity (78-530 μS cm-1), low nutrient content and medium-to-high calcium ion content (12.4-76.4 mg l-1). Despite the rare occurrence in other parts of the world, the studied Gomphonema species has found favorable conditions in unpolluted and calcium-rich stream beds with flysch strata. The literature data define G. calcifugum as a non-calciphilous species, but this study shows that it can develop in a wide pH range and in calcium-rich waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simonsenia delognei is a diatom species which is relatively rarely recorded, but apparently widespread in Europe and other continents. This taxon has recently been discovered for the first time in springs of Central Poland, where it was found to occur abundantly. Somewhat later this species has also been identified and photographed in samples from the Eagean Region in Turkey. Light and electron microscopic studies were carried out on S. delognei populations from the Quaternary spring located near Łódź (Central Poland) and from the Porsuk and Felent Rivers and a spring in the Türkmen Mountains in Kütahya and Havuzdere Stream in Yalova (NW Turkey). Morphological studies were accompanied by environmental measurements and determination of changes in the seasonal distribution of S. delognei in a key area, i.e. the Porzeczkowe spring in Central Poland, which are included in the present study. Identification of S. delognei under a light microscope is difficult and hence an electron microscope is required for accurate taxonomic identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the studies conducted in 2007-2012 in south-eastern Poland, 56 diatom taxa were found from the Pinnularia genus. Pinnularia brebissonii (Kützing) Rabenhorst, P. obscura Krasske, P. viridiformis Krammer, P. lundii Hustedt, and P. viridis (Nitzsch) Ehrenberg occurred at most of the investigated sites. Eighteen taxa were considered as new to Polish flora. Some taxa are very rare in Poland and Europe and are found in only a few localities. Eight taxa are listed on the Polish Red List of Algae, including six taxa classified as endangered (E): P. nobilis (Ehrenberg) Ehrenberg, P. nodosa (Ehrenberg) W. Smith, P. subrupestris Hantzsch, P. schoenfelderii Krammer, P. subgibba Krammer and P. viridiformis Krammer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the research carried out in Lakes Duszatyńskie and the Olchowaty stream, a new European site with Geissleria declivis (Hust.) Lange-Bert. was found - a new species for Poland. The highest abundance of G. declivis has been observed on sandy substrate and small stones in the littoral zone of the Upper Lake during the spring season. The species occurred together with Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kütz.) Czarn. var. minutissimum, A. catenatum (Bily & Marvan), Fragilaria leptostauron (Ehrenb.) Hust. var. leptostauron and F. pinnata Ehrenb. var. pinnata. Our observations revealed that G. declivis develops in lentic water bodies with medium organic matter content and neutral pH. The species seems to prefer mesotrophic waters with low to medium electrolyte content and oligosaprobous. The species morphology and identity is documented in a series of light microscopic (LM) images and for the first time under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]