GLOEOCOCCUS MINUTISSIMUS SP. NOV. ISOLATED FROM SOIL1

A new species of Gloeococcns, G. minutissimus, is described from unialgal culture; the organism was isolated from soil collected near Bastrop, Bastrop Co., Texas. This alga consistently produced Chlamydomonas-like vegetative cells that were motile within nonmotile colonies of definite shape. Its taxonomic position is also discussed.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF PRYMNESIUM NEMAMETHECUM SP. NOV. (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE)1

Based on material collected from Cape Town, a new sand-dwelling, marine species of Prymnesium is described. Using light and electron microscopy, Prymnesium nemamethecum sp. nov. has been found to resemble other species of the genus in size, organelle arrangement, and swimming behavior. It differs from other described species in that it has three types of scales, one of which is confined to the region of appendage insertion and forms a sheath of simple plate scales over the haptonema. In addition, the scales constituting the proximal body scale layer(s) are unusual because they are not simple plate scales but are specifically ornamented.     

HALIMEDA HUMMII SP. NOV., HALIMEDA CRYPTICA V. ACERIFOLIA VAR. NOV. (CAULERPALES,CHLOROPHYTA), AND ADDITIONAL RECORDS OF HALIMEDA SPECIES FROM: PUERTO RICO1

A new species, Halimeda hummii, and a new variety of Halimeda cryptica Colinvaux and Graham both originally collected from the edge of the continental shelf on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico are newly described. The new species is irregular in its segment morphology and is the smallest species of Halimeda presently known. Halimeda cryptica var. acerifolia from deep water possesses distinctive segments resembling maple leaves. Halimeda copiosa Goreau and Graham and typical H. cryptica are also collected in deep water and are newly recorded from Puerto Rico.     

GRACILARIOPSIS MCLACHLANII SP. NOV. AND GRACILARIOPSIS PERSICA SP. NOV. OF THE GRACILARIACEAE (GRACILARIALES,RHODOPHYCEAE) FROM THE INDIAN OCEAN1

Two new species of Gracilariopsis from the Indian Ocean are proposed—Gracilariopsis (Gp.) mclachlanii Buriyo, Bellorin et M. C. Oliveira sp. nov. from Tanzania and Gracilariopsis persica Bellorin, Sohrabipour et E. C. Oliveira sp. nov. from Iran—based on morphology and DNA sequence data (rbcL gene and SSU rDNA). Both species fit the typical features of Gracilariopsis: axes cylindrical throughout, freely and loosely ramified up to four orders, with an abrupt transition in cell size from medulla to cortex, cystocarps lacking tubular nutritive cells and superficial spermatangia. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of rbcL and SSU rDNA placed both species into the Gracilariopsis clade as distinct species from all the accepted species for this genus, forming a deeply divergent lineage together with some species from the Pacific. The new species are very difficult to distinguish on morphological grounds from other species of Gracilariopsis, stressing the importance of homologous molecular marker comparisons for the species recognition in this character‐poor genus.     

MORPHOLOGY AND MOLECULAR ANALYSES OF THREE TOXIC SPECIES OF GAMBIERDISCUS (DINOPHYCEAE): G. PACIFICUS, SP. NOV., G. AUSTRALES, SP. NOV., AND G. POLYNESIENSIS, SP. NOV.

Three new dinoflagellate species, Gambierdiscus polynesiensis, sp. nov., Gambierdiscus australes, sp. nov., and Gambierdiscus pacificus, sp. nov., are described from scanning electron micrographs. The morphology of the three new Gambierdiscus species is compared with the type species Gambierdiscus toxicus Adachi et Fukuyo 1979, and two other species: Gambierdiscus belizeanus Faust 1995 and Gambierdiscus yasumotoi Holmes 1998. The plate formula is: Po, 3′, 7", 6C, 8S, 5‴, 1p, 2". Culture extracts of these three new species displayed both ciguatoxin- and maitotoxin-like toxicities. The following morphological characteristics differentiated each species. 1) Cells of G. polynesiensis are 68–85 μm long and 64–75 μm wide, and the cell’s surface is smooth. They are identified by a large triangular apical pore plate (Po), a narrow fish-hook opening surrounded by 38 round pores, and a large, broad posterior intercalary plate (1p) wedged between narrow postcingular plates 2‴ and 4‴. Plate 1p occupies 60% of the width of the hypotheca. 2) Cells of G. australes also have a smooth surface and are 76–93 μm long and 65–85 μm wide in dorsoventral depth. They are identified by the broad ellipsoid apical pore plate (Po) surrounded by 31 round pores and a long and narrow 1p plate wedged between postcingular plates 2‴ and 4‴. Plate 1p occupies 30% of the width of the hypotheca. 3) Cells of G. pacificus are 67–77 μm long and 60–76 μm wide in dorsoventral depth, and its surface is smooth. They are identified by the four-sided apical pore plate (Po) surrounded by 30 round pores. A short narrow 1p plate is wedged between the wide postcingular plates 2‴ and 4‴. Plate 1p occupies 20% of the width of the hypotheca. These three newly described species were also characterized by isozyme electrophoresis and DNA sequencing of the D8–D10 region of their large subunit (LSU) rRNA genes. The consistency between species designations based on SEM microscopy and classification inferred from biochemical and genetic heterogeneities was examined among seven isolates of Gambierdiscus. Their classification into four morphospecies was not consistent with groupings inferred from isozyme patterns. Three molecular types could be distinguished based on the comparison of their LSU rDNA sequences. Although G. toxicus TUR was found to be more closely related to G. pacificus, sp. nov. than to other G. toxicus strains, the molecular classification was able to discriminate G. polynesiensis, sp. nov. and G. australes, sp. nov. from G. toxicus. These results suggest the usefulness of the D8–D10 portion of the Gambierdiscus LSU rDNA as a valuable taxonomic marker.     

THREE NEW BENTHIC SPECIES OF PROROCENTRUM (DINOPHYCEAE) FROM BELIZE: P. NORRISIANUM SP. NOV., P. TROPICALIS SP. NOV., and P. RETICULATUM SP. NOV.1

Three new benthic, photosynthetic dinoflagellate species, Prorocentrum norrisianum, Prorocentrum tropicalis, and Prorocentrum reticulatum, from floating detritus and coral rubble of Central America are described from scanning electron micrographs. Species were identified based on shape, size, surface micromorphology, thecal plate ornamentation, and architecture of the periflagellar area and intercalary band. Cells of P. norrisianum are ovate with a cell size of 20–25 μm long and 13–16 μm wide. The theca is delicate, its surface smooth, pores species specific with 95 to 105 pores per valve. Pores are round with a diameter of about 0.1 μm. The periflagellar area is V-shaped, located on the right valve in a shallow depression. It has no ornamentation. The flagellar and auxiliary pores are unequal in size. The intercalary band is smooth. Prorocentrum tropicalis cells are ovoid, 50–55 μm long and 40–45 μm wide in valve view with maximum width behind the middle region, narrow at the anterior end. The periflagellar area, situated in the right valve, is a V-shaped wide triangle with a deeply indented depression; the left valve exhibits a flat ridge. The periflagellar area is unornamented, and the flagellar and auxiliary pores are unequal in size. The valve surface is rugose with evenly distributed valve poroids. Each poroid appears to have a small dome in the center. The intercalary band is rimlike around the cell margin, granulated, and horizontally striated. Prorocentrum reticulatum cells are oblong in valve view; cells are 55–60 μm long and 40–45 μm wide. Thecal surface is reticulated; it is composed of a labyrinth of ridges with alternating depressions that vary in size and shape. Each depression has a narrow, oblong-kidney-shaped opening about 0.6 μm long. The periflagellar area is a deep, V-shaped triangle. The right valve of P. reticulatum is excavated, and contains a large flagellar pore and a smaller auxiliary pore surrounded by a narrow apical collar. The left valve margin exhibits a curved flat ridge. The intercalary band is smooth.     

MARIPELTA ATLANTICA SP. NOV. (RHODOPHYTA,RHODYMENIALES) A NEW DEEP-WATER ALGA FROM FLORIDA1

A red alga with a cylindrical stipe bearing a single deciduous blade was collected in deep water off the east coast of Florida. It is described as Maripelta atlantica sp. nov., differing from M. rotata (Dawson) Dawson (the type of the genus, from deep water off California and Baja California) chiefly by having an annular tetrasporangial nemathecium on the lower surface of the blade rather than scattered nemathecia on the upper surface. Both species are vegetatively and reproductively distinct from M. thivyae Dawson, which is transferred to Halichrysis. New information is given regarding the reproduction and distribution of M. rotata.     

PHYCOLOGICAL NOTES. H. EUGLENA MYXOCYLINDRACEA SP. NOV.12

A previously undescribed species of Euglena, E. myxocylindracea, sp. nov., is described from soil in a garden and in a while pine woods in Pike County, Pa. In addition to the, type, an organism (No. 457) in the Culture Collection of Algae. Indiana University, hitherto designated E. viridis var. terricola. is transferred to E. myxocylindracea as var. terricola. Differences such as the usual absence of an emergent flagellum, or the presence of an extremely short one (ca. 3.5–4 μ), and the dominance of a palmelloid state in a variety of liquid and solid culture media in which the cells secrete dichotomously branching slimy cylinders distinguish the new species from E. viridis.     

THREE NEW BENTHIC SPECIES OF PROROCENTRUM (DINOPHYCEAE) FROM CARRIE BOW CAY,BELIZE: P. SABULOSUM SP. NOV., P. SCULPTILE SP. NOV., AND P. ARENARIUM SP. NOV.1

Three new benthic, sand-dwelling dinqflagellate species, Prorocentrum sabulosum, Prorocentrum scuptile, and Prorocentrum arenarium, from coral rubble are described from scanning electron micrographs. Species were identified based on shape, size, surface micromorphology, ornamentation of thecal plates, and architecture of the periflagellar area and intercalary band. Cells of P. sabulosum are oval with a cell size of 48–50 μm long and 41–48 μm wide. The areolae are round to oval and numerous (332–450 per valve) and range from 1 to 1.6 μm in size. The periflagellar area of P. sabulosum bears a wide V-shaped depression with a flat ridge and lacks ornamentation; it accommodates six pores: one large flagellar pore, an adjacent smaller auxiliary pore, and four pores of unknown function. The flagellar and auxiliary pores are surrounded by a narrow apical collar. The intercalary band of P. sabulosum is smooth. Prorocentrum sculptile cells are broadly oval, 32–37 nm long, and 30–32 μm wide in valve view with a deep-sculptured apical area. The valves are smooth and are marked with shallow depressions (856–975 per valve). Some of these depressions have a small round opening (0.13 μm in diameter). The periflagellar area is V-shaped with a deeply indented depression; it accommodates the two flagella and a thin angled apical plate. The intercalary band is smooth. Prorocentrum arenarium cells are nearly round in valve view 30–32 μm in diameter. Thecal surface is smooth with scattered kidney-shaped valve poroids (65–73 per valve) and marginal poroids (50–57 per valve). Length and width of poroids are 0.62 μm and 0.36 μm, respectively. The periflagellar area is an unornamented, broad triangle into which a large flagellar pore and a smaller auxiliary pore are fitted. Both flagella, longitudinal and transverse, protrude from the flagellar pore. The intercalary band is smooth. The presence of a peduncle-like structure (2–3 μm long) in P. arenarium was observed situated in the flagellar pore.     

NITZSCHIA ALICAE SP. NOV. AND N. PURIFORMIS SP. NOV., NEW DIATOMS FROM EUROPEAN RIVERS AND COMPARISON WITH THE TYPE MATERIAL OF N. SUBLINEARIS AND N. PURA1

Nitzschia sublinearis Hustedt and N. pura Hustedt are common oligosaprobic freshwater diatom species that frequently occur in diatom inventories, thus being important in water quality studies. Both are considered as species with overlapping diagnostic criteria in several floras, which is typical of the whole genus Nitzschia. The type material of Hustedt of N. sublinearis and N. pura was examined using LM and EM in order to document the range of variation within the type populations and to compare it with populations occurring in different European rivers. Detailed observations allowed recognition of two new freshwater diatom species: N. alicae sp. nov., occurring in mesotrophic up to eutrophic conditions, and N. puriformis sp. nov., mostly occurring in oligotrophic habitats, both in rivers and streams at middle and high altitudes. The most reliable taxonomic features that separate both new species from the most similar taxa are the density of fibulae and striae, valve shape, and valve width as well as the shape of areolae. Morphological examination of different populations indicates that N. puriformis is relatively common in European rivers and has been overlooked to date and confounded with N. pura by several researchers. By contrast, N. alicae has, to date, been collected only in Slovakia and Northern Italy, but with a high frequency of occurrence and sometimes in high abundance at sites.     

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS OF PFIESTERIA‐LIKE DINOFLAGELLATE,LUCIELLA GEN. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE), INCLUDING TWO NEW SPECIES: LUCIELLA MASANENSIS SP. NOV. AND LUCIELLA ATLANTIS SP. NOV.1

A new genus of Pfiesteria‐like heterotrophic dinoflagellate, Luciella gen. nov., and two new species, Luciella masanensis sp. nov. and Luciella atlantis sp. nov., are described. These species commonly occur with other small (<20 μm) heterotrophic and mixotrophic dinoflagellates in estuaries from Florida to Maryland and the southern coast of Korea, suggesting a possible global distribution. An SEM analysis indicates that members of the genus Luciella have the enhanced Kofoidian plate formula of Po, cp, X, 4′, 2a, 6″, 6c, PC, 5+s, 5?, 0p, and 2″″. The two four‐sided anterior intercalary plates are diamond shaped. The genus Luciella differs from the other genera in the Pfiesteriaceae by a least one plate in the plate tabulation and in the configuration of the two anterior intercalary plates. An SSU rDNA phylogenetic analysis confirmed the genus as monophyletic and distinct from the other genera in the Pfiesteriaceae. The morphology of Luciella masanensis closely resembles Pfiesteria piscicida Steid. et J. M. Burkh. and other Pfiesteria‐like dinoflagellates in size and shape, making it easily misidentified using LM. Luciella atlantis, in contrast, has a more distinctive morphology. It can be distinguished from L. masanensis and other Pfiesteria‐like organisms by a larger cell size, a more conical‐shaped epitheca and hypotheca, larger rhombic‐shaped intercalary plates, and an asymmetrical hypotheca. The genus Luciella is assigned to the order Peridiniales and the family Pfiesteriaceae based on plate tabulation, plate pattern, general morphology, and phylogenetic analysis.     

PUNCTICULATA VERSIFORMIS SP. NOV. AND CYCLOTELLA KATHMANDUENSIS SP. NOV. (BACILLARIOPHYTA), NEW FOSSIL SPECIES FROM MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE LACUSTRINE SEDIMENTS,KATHMANDU, NEPAL HIMALAYA1

New fossil species, Puncticulata versiformis sp. nov. and Cyclotella kathmanduensis sp. nov., are described from lacustrine sediments in the Kathmandu Basin on the southern slope of the Nepal Himalaya. They were dominant in the Middle Pleistocene. Both LM and SEM observations reveal their unique morphological features. Puncticulata versiformis is characterized by (1) various valve outlines (circular, elliptical, or oval), (2) a tangentially undulate central area, (3) a complex alveolar structure composed of three kinds of costae (thick costae, thin costae, and thin and short costae), (4) well‐developed spines (Y‐shaped and tapering) located on one side of the valve face/mantle area junction, and (5) a valvocopula with an extremely undulate margin. The species‐specific feature of C. kathmanduensis is the presence of two kinds of alveolate zones in a single valve: type‐1 zone composed only of normal costae, and type‐2 zone composed of both normal costae and recessed costae bearing fultoportulae. Changes in valve ornamentation occur in these two species from initial valves to vegetative valves. In P. versiformis, the arrangement of areolae with internal domed cribra and fultoportulae in the central area changes from radial rows in the initial valve to groups in the vegetative valve. In the initial valve of C. kathmanduensis, the type‐1 alveolate zone is generally absent.     

SOME PRYMNESIACEAE (HAPTOPHYTA,PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA,WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES: CHRYSOCHROMULINA LANCEOLATA SP. NOV. AND C. PSEUDOLANCEOLATA SP. NOV.1

Five species belonging to the family Prymnesiaceae (one Prymnesium and four Chrysochromulina) have been identified in cultures obtained from water collected in the Bay of Banyuls‐sur‐Mer (Mediterranean Sea, France) using LM, SEM, and TEM. Two are described as new species, Chrysochromulina lanceolata sp. nov. and C. pseudolanceolata sp. nov. Both species are large and lanceolate with an acute posterior and two anterior arms. They are easily detectable with LM but difficult to distinguish to species level with live cells, without experience. EM reveals two completely different scale patterns in the two species. Cells of C. lanceolata are 21–38 μm long, 7–12 μm wide, and 3–7 μm thick. They possess two subequal flagella (30–51 and 29–44 μm), and the haptonema is shorter than the flagella (23–37 μm). The cell body is covered by plate and spine scales. Cells of C. pseudolanceolata sp. nov. are slightly smaller (15–18 × 6–8 μm) with more rounded extremities, two subequal flagella (19–26 and 17–24 μm), and the haptonema is longer than the flagella (about 35 μm). Three types of plate scales are observed in this species. Other findings are C. alifera Parke et Manton and C. throndsenii Eikrem (a new record for the Mediterranean Sea). Prymnesium faveolatum Fresnel, a new toxic species recently described, is illustrated with both LM and SEM.     

黑粉菌属一新种及中国黑粉菌补遗VI

本文描述采自河北小五台山的黑粉菌一新种,即寄生在野青茅(Deyeuxia arundinacea(L.) Beauv)上的野青茅黑粉菌(Ustilago deyeuxiae L. Guo)。此种与网优黑粉菌(Ustilago scrobiculata Liro)近似,但野青茅黑粉菌网纹明显,网眼高。并报道三种黑粉菌中国新记录。1)酢浆草黑粉菌(Ustilago oxalidis Ellis&Tracy)寄生于醉浆草(Oxalis corniculata L.),此种是我国首次在酢浆草科(Oxalidaceae)植物上发现的黑粉菌。2)网状黑粉菌(Ustilago polygoni-alati Thirum. & Pavgi)寄生于尼泊尔萝(Polygonum nepalense Meisn.),作者对此种进行了订正研究。3)臭草条黑粉菌(Urocystis melicae (Lagerheim & Liro) Zundel)寄生于细叶臭草(Melica radula Fr.)。     

LIGHT MICROSCOPY AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF NEPHROSELMIS SPINOSA SP. NOV. (PRASINOPHYCEAE,CHLOROPHYTA)1

Nephroselmis spinosa Suda sp. nov. is described based on LM and EM observations. Two strains of N. spinosa (S222 and SD959‐3) were isolated from sand samples collected from the northwest coast of western Australia. The cells were remarkably right–left flattened and appeared ellipse or bean‐shaped when viewed from their right or left side. A single, parietal, crescent chloroplast was pale green to yellowish green and contained one conspicuous eyespot in its anterior ventral edge near the base of the short flagellum. A pyrenoid with three starch plates was located at the dorsal of the chloroplast. The cells divided by transverse binary cell division, as is common in other species of this genus. This alga possessed four types of body scales, and three scale types were similar to N. olivacea Stein and N. astigmatica Inouye & Pienaar. However, the fourth and outermost scale type was distinctive because although it was a spiny stellate scale with nine spines, one of them extended about 1 μm and was slightly curved with a hook at the end. This scale morphology, an important taxonomic characteristic, has never been described for the genus Nephroselmis. The cell's morphology, pyrenoid structure, hair scales, and cell size were distinctive from previously described Nephroselmis species, and its unique scale characteristic led me to name this newly proposed species “spinosa,” meaning spiny.     

CRYPTIC AND PSEUDO‐CRYPTIC DIVERSITY IN DIATOMS—WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF PSEUDO‐NITZSCHIA HASLEANA SP. NOV. AND P. FRYXELLIANA SP. NOV.1

A high degree of pseudo‐cryptic diversity was reported in the well‐studied diatom genus Pseudo‐nitzschia. Studies off the coast of Washington State revealed the presence of hitherto undescribed diversity of Pseudo‐nitzschia. Forty‐one clonal strains, representing six different taxa of the P. pseudodelicatissima complex, were studied morphologically using LM and EM, and genetically using genes from three different cellular compartments: the nucleus (D1–D3 of the LSU of rDNA and internal transcribed spacers [ITSs] of rDNA), the mitochondria (cytochrome c oxidase 1), and the plastids (LSU of RUBISCO). Strains in culture at the same time were used in mating studies to study reproductive isolation of species, and selected strains were examined for the production of the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). Two new species, P. hasleana sp. nov. and P. fryxelliana sp. nov., are described based on morphological and molecular data. In all phylogenetic analyses, P. hasleana appeared as sister taxa to a clade comprising P. calliantha and P. mannii, whereas the position of P. fryxelliana was more uncertain. In the phylogenies of ITS, P. fryxelliana appeared to be most closely related to P. cf. turgidula. Morphologically, P. hasleana differed from most other species of the complex because of a lower density of fibulae, whereas P. fryxelliana had fewer sectors in the poroids and a higher poroid density than most of the other species. P. hasleana did not produce detectable levels of DA; P. fryxelliana was unfortunately not tested. In P. cuspidata, production of DA in offspring cultures varied from higher than the parent cultures to undetectable.