The freshwater alga Mucidosphaerium sphagnale (Chlorellaceae: Chlorophyta) in New Zealand: the first record outside Europe.

Mucidosphaerium sphagnale, a new record for New Zealand, is reported from Awarua Wetland. The genusMucidosphaeriumhas recently been separated from the well-knownDictyosphaerium, a colonial green alga with cells connected by thin, branching stalks, to encompass those forms with near-spherical adult cells. The previous name for this taxon,Dictyosphaerium sphagnale, is not recorded from New Zealand; however,Mucidosphaerium pulchellum(syn.Dictyosphaerium pulchellum), which has been reported here many times and is very difficult to distinguish without DNA sequences, may represent previously misidentified instances ofM. sphagnale. TheM. sphagnaleis reported here from aSphagnumbog, as is typical of its European range, whereasM. pulchellumin New Zealand appears to have been reported exclusively from lakes and rivers. The organism reported here is therefore quite likely a genuine new occurrence. Co-introduction to New Zealand with foreignSphagnumis a possibility. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]