STRUCTURE,LIFE HISTORY AND SYSTEMATICS OF RHOICOSPHENIA (BACILLARIOPHYTA). I. THE VEGETATIVE CELL OF RH. CURVATA1

Rhoicosphenia Grun. has been placed by some authors in the monoraphid group with Achnanthes Bory and Cocconeis Ehrenb., and by others near Gomphonema Ehrenb. In order to clarify the systematic position of the genus, the morphology and anatomy of the vegetative cells of Rh. curvata (Kütz.) Grun. were investigated using light and electron microscopy. The structure and formation of the two types of valve are described, and the heterovalvy shown to be of a different type from that of the monoraphids; on the basis of raphe, valve and girdle structure a close relationship between these and Rhoicosphenia is unlikely. Rhoicosphenia shows many resemblances to Gomphonema but the types of pore occlusion present, coupled with apparently slight differences in the mucilage-secreting structures and the girdle, suggest that classification in the same family is unwise. The cryptic asymmetry of the valves, and in particular of the raphe system, is noted and explained with reference to their formation; with respect to this asymmetry two configurations of the valves can occur (named cis and trans types) and the distribution of these in raphid genera is discussed briefly. In view of the lack of evidence in raphid diatoms supporting a classification of bands into copulae and pleurae, it is recommended that this practice be suspended.     

STRUCTURE,LIFE HISTORY AND SYSTEMATICS OF RHOICOSPHENIA (BACILLARIOPHYTA). V. INITIAL CELL AND SIZE REDUCTION IN RH. CURVATA AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE RHOICOSPHENIACEAE FAM. NOV.1

The initial epivalve of Rhoicosphenia curvata (Kütz.) Grun. differs from vegetative valves in having a strongly arched section, a wide hyaline marginal strip, no pseudosepta, an unthickened margin, and a terminal raphe fissure at the head pole. The initial epivalve is of the D type, with short raphe fissures. The epicingulum consists of three bands as usual, but they are narrower and more delicate than those of vegetative cells. The initial hypovalve and hypocingulum are similar in every way to those of vegetative cells, except for the rounded section of the hypovalve. During size reduction the almost isopolar outline of the initial valves and their immediate descendants gives way to an increasingly strong heteropolarity, and this is accompanied by changes in the relative lengths of the raphe slits and the shape of the central area. Different populations have different gametangium and initial cell sizes, suggesting the presence of races within the species. The structure of the initial cell indicates that Rhoicosphenia is less closely related to the monoraphid genera than to the gomphocymbelloid genera, confirming conclusions reached from studies of the vegetative cell and auxospore formation. Rhoicosphenia should therefore be separated into a new family, the Rhoicospheniaceae, which is described.     

COMMUNITY STRUCTURE DYNAMICS OF EPILITHIC AND EPIPHYTIC DIATOMS IN A MISSISSIPPI STREAM1

Epilithic and epiphytic diatoms were collected monthly from 18 June 1979 through 19 May 1980 from both shaded and unshaded sites of Sessums Creek, a shallow, oligotrophic and strongly alkaline stream in northeastern Mississippi. The dominant macroalgae were filamentous green algae belonging to the non-mucilage producing genera Cladophora and Rhizoclonium. Ninety taxa were identified with Navicula minima Grun. and Nitzschia dissipata (Kütz.) Grun. accounting for 50% of all valves counted. Other important taxa were Navicula menisculus var. upsaliensis (Grun.) Grun., N. cryptocephala var. veneta (Kütz.) Rabh., Achnanthes minutissima Kütz. and Cymbella turgida (Greg.) Cl. With few exceptions, the more dominant taxa were equally abundant in the shaded and unshaded sites and also in the epilithon and epiphyton. Species diversity (H') and the number of taxa in a sample in all four habitats showed an identical pattern, being lowest in winter and highest in fall. No one pair of habitats was more structurally similar than any-other pair when compared by a similarity index (SIMI). Apparently, differences in light intensity and substrate type had little effect on diatom distribution in Sessums Creek and it was concluded that the locality sampled supported a single, nearly homogeneous diatom community.     

Geothermal diatoms: a comparative study of floras in hot spring systems of Iceland,New Zealand,and Kenya

Diatom floras were examined from geothermal environments in three contrasting tectonic settings. These included subduction-related acid and alkaline springs in New Zealand; alkaline springs along a divergent plate boundary on Iceland; and alkaline springs in the Kenya Rift. These shallow (<1 cm) aquatic environments vary considerably (e.g., temperature: 21.3–99°C; pH: 2.1–9.65; 56.41–643 mg l⁻¹ SiO₂). Diatoms form an important component of geothermal floras at temperatures of <45°C. The floras from New Zealand are distinguished by the common occurrence of Pinnularia. Icelandic springs have a variety of Fragilariaceae. Navicula and Anomoeoneis are most common in the Kenyan springs. Statistical analyses suggest that the diatoms cluster into seven major groups. The most common taxa include: Achnanthidium exiguum v. heterovalvum (Kras.) Czarn., Anomoeoneis sphaerophora (Ehrenb.) Pfitz, Brachysira brebissonii f. thermalis Grun., Caloneis bacillum (Grun.) Cl., Craticula cuspidata (Kütz.) Mann, Diadesmis confervacea Kütz., Epithemia argus (Ehrenb.) Kütz., Frustulia rhomboides (Ehrenb.) DeT., Hantzschia amphioxys (Ehrenb.) Grun., Navicula tenelloides Hust., Nitzschia amphibia Grun., Nitzschia inconspicua Grun., Nitzschia invisitata Hust., Nitzschia frustulum (Kütz.) Grun., Nitzschia sigma (Kütz.) W, Smith., Pinnularia chapmaniana Fog., Pinnularia appendiculata (Ag.) Cl., Pinnularia molaris (Grun.) Cl., Pinnularia acoricola Hust., Rhopalodia gibberula (Ehrenb.) O. Müll., Staurosira construens v. venter (Ehrenb.) Ham., Staurosira elliptica (Schum.) Will. & Round, and Staurosirella pinnata (Ehrenb.) Will. & Round. Canonical correspondence analysis shows clear correlations between species, alkalinity, pH, and conductivity, with less strong correlations for silica and temperature. Other factors include substrate type, current velocity, and light conditions. The preservation potential of host deposits varies considerably, being lowest for springs on clastic deltas and highest where travertine or sinter is accumulating. Handling editor: J. Padisak     

BENTHIC MARINE DIATOM ASSOCIATIONS: UPPER FLORIDA BAY (FLORIDA) AND ASSOCIATED SOUNDS1

Models of the diatom associations found in upper Florida Bay and adjoining sounds have been constructed utilizing Q modal factor-vector analysis and ecologic diversity indices (Shannon index, number of species, evenness). Four distinct associations were defined using Q-mode factor-vector analysis. Two associations were epiphytic, occurring on Thalassia testudinum König—Association I was characterized by Cocconeis placentula Ehr., Association III by Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehr.) Reim. & Lewin and Cocconeis placentula Ehr. The other two associations were epipelic, occurring on the carbonate mud substratum—Association II was characterized by Cyclotella striata (Kütz.) Grun., Rhopalodia gibberula (Ehr.) O. Müller and Surirella fastuosa (Ehr.) Kütz., Association IV by Fragilaria crotonensis Kitton and Cyclotella striata (Kütz.) Grun. The majority of the 161 species identified were present in both the epiphytic and epipelic assemblages. Only 33 species were restricted to the epiphyton, and 18 species restricted to the epipelon. The epipelic assemblage was significantly more diverse than was the epiphytic assemblage. A general trend of increased diversity away from terrestrial environs toward more open areas of water in both the epipelon and epiphyton was also found.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE FILAMENTOUS HABIT IN THE DIATOM NAVICULA CONFERVACEA (KÜTZ.) GRUN.1

Frustules of the filamentous diatom Navicula confervacea (Kütz.) Grun. are united by the overlapping of marginal teeth located alongside the junction of valve face and mantle. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy show this connecting mechanism to differ from the previously reported inter-digitating spines or teeth in the genera Melosira, Stephanodisus, and Fragilaria.     

COMPARATIVE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE VALVES OF SOME CYCLOTELLA SPECIES (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1

Cyclotella atomus Hust., C. meneghiniana Kütz., C. comta (Ehr.) Kütz., C. antiqua W. Sm., C. michiganiana Skv., C. ocellata Pant., C. glomerata Bachmann, C. pseudostelligera Hust., and C. stelligera (Cleve et Grun.) V. H., were selected for ultrastructure investigations on the basis of their ready availability. Specimens were examined employing both transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Strutted processes, labiate processes, spines and other special features were surveyed in all species. On the basis of these observations the species of Cyclotella observed seem to be in one of 3 morphological groups, the meneghiniana group, the comta group, and the stelligera group.     

OCCURRENCE OF THREE NITZSCHIA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) TAXA WITHIN COLONIES OF TUBE-FORMING DIATOMS1

In benthic samples from the unchannelized Missouri River, the diatoms Nitzschia dissipata (Kütz.) Grun., N. filiformis (W.Sm.) Schütt and N. pseudofonticola Hust. were observed within the mucilage tubes of four tube-forming diatoms: Cymbella prostrata (Berk.) Cl., C. prostrata var. auerswaldii (Rabh.) Reim., Navicula tripunctata var. schizonemoides (V.H.) Patr., and Nitzschia filiformis. Microscopical observations of live and preserved specimens indicated that “invasion” by Nitzschia occurred primarily in older tubes. Data are presented on the environmental conditions in which the tube-formers and their cohabitants have been found.     

SCHIZOMERIS—A GROWTH FORM OF STIGEOCLONIUM TENUE (CHLOROPHYTA:CHAETOPHORACEAE)1

Schizomeris leibleinii Kütz. was found as an ecophene of Stigeoclonium tenue (Ag.) Kütz. in Centennial Lake, Palmerston North, New Zealand. The Schizomeris form occurred in autumn when the water was polluted by a large number of ducks. Sampling of the plant population of the lake and culture work showed that S. tenue has a high degree of polymorphism. Other forms of it which developed both in the lake and in culture were indistinguishable from Protoderma Kütz. emend. Borzi, from Uronema Lagerheim, or from Pearsoniella Fritsch and Rich, respectively.     

Observations on some species of the diatom genus Gomphonema C. A. Agardh

Gomphonema acuminatum var. coronatum Ehrenb., G. capitatum Ehrenb., G. constrictum Ehrenb., G. gracile Ehrenb., G. intricatum var. vibrio Ehrenb., G. subclavatum Grun. and G. ventricosum Greg. all conform to the basic features of the genus Gomphonema C. Ag. as exemplified by detailed electron microscopical studies of G. parvulum Kütz. This biraphidaceous diatom genus is characterised by heteropolar, asymmetrical cells which have a single isolated punctum, displaced somewhat from the centre of the valve. Electron microscopical observations reveal a reniform or horseshoe-shaped poroidal structure to the valve. It is suggested that this is found only in “true” members of the genus Gomphonema. Other “gomphonemoid” types with differing pore structure should be removed into related genera.     

ABSOLUTE CONFIGURATION ANALYSIS OF THE FLAGELLAR APPARATUS IN CLADOPHORA AND CHAETOMORPHA MOTILE CELLS,WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF THE CLADOPHORACEAE (ULVOPHYCEAE,CHLOROPHYTA)

Absolute configurational analyses of flagellar apparatus components were performed on the motile cells produced by three species of Cladophora, Cl. dalmatica Kütz., Cl. flexuosa (Dillw.) Harv., and Cl. glomerata (L.) Kütz., and by Chaetomorpha aerea (Dillw.) Kütz. There was little variation among the species. All of the flagellar apparatuses demonstrated the ulvophyceous features of 180° rotational symmetry, counterclockwise absolute orientation, and basal body overlap, as well as the alignment of the basal bodies perpendicular to the long axis of the cell. Diagnostic features included the nearly complete absence of C tubules from the basal bodies and the presence of a coarsely striated component dorsal to the two-membered rootlets in all cells, as well as, in quadriflagellate cells, a tetralobate distal fiber, the coaxial arrangement of the lowermost pair of basal bodies, and the presence of a characteristic array of basal-body-associated striated bands. The distal fiber architecture, the presence of a “wing” in the X-membered rootlets, and the “flattening” of the flagellar apparatus components suggests a close relationship of the Cladophoraceae to the Dasycladales, and indicates that these two groups may have shared a common ancestor, possibly ancient in terms of the geological time scale but relatively recent in the context of ulvophyceous evolution. A sizeable phylogenetic gap exists between the Cladophoraceae and uninucleate-celled, presumably primitive members of the Ulvophyceae.     

The production of extracellular carbohydrates by estuarine benthic diatoms: the effects of growth phase and light and dark treatment

Epipelic diatoms are important constituents of estuarine microphytobenthic biofilms. Field‐based investigations have shown that the production of carbohydrates by such taxa is ecologically important. However, limited information exists on the dynamics of carbohydrate production by individual species of epipelic diatoms. The production of low and high molecular weight extracellular carbohydrates in axenic cultures of five species of benthic estuarine diatoms, Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehrenberg), Navicula perminuta (Grun.) in Van Heurck, Nitzschia frustulum (Kütz.) Grunow, Nitzschia sigma (Kütz.) Grunow, and Surirella ovata (Kütz.) Grunow, were investigated. All species produced colloidal (water‐soluble) carbohydrates during growth, with maximal production occurring during stationary phase. During logarithmic growth, approximately 20% of extracellular carbohydrates consisted of polymeric material (extracellular polymeric substances [EPS]), but during stationary phase, EPS content increased to 34%–50%. Pyrolysis–mass spectrophotometry analysis showed differences in the composition of EPS produced during logarithmic and stationary phase. All species synthesized glucan as a storage carbohydrate, with maximum glucan accumulation during the transition from log to stationary phase. Short‐term labeling with ¹⁴C‐bicarbonate found that between 30 and 60% of photoassimilates were released as colloidal carbohydrate, with EPS consisting of approximately 16% of this colloidal fraction. When cells were placed in darkness, EPS production increased, and between 85 and 99% of extracellular carbohydrate produced was polymeric. Glucan reserves were utilized in dark conditions, with significant negative correlations between EPS and glucan for N. perminuta and S. ovata. Under dark conditions, cells continued to produce EPS for up to 3 days, although release of low molecular weight carbohydrates rapidly ceased when cells were dark treated. Three aspects of EPS production have been identified during this investigation: (1) production during rapid growth, which differs in composition from (2) EPS directly produced as a result of photosynthetic overflow during growth limiting conditions and (3) EPS produced for up to 3 days in the dark using intracellular storage reserves (glucans). The ecological implications of these patterns of production and utilization are discussed.     

OCCURRENCE OF THREE NITZSCHIA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) TAXA WITHIN COLONIES OF TUBE-FORMING DIATOMS1

In benthic samples from the unchannelized Missouri River, the diatoms Nitzschia dissipata (Kütz.) Grun., N. filiformis (W. Sm.) Schütt and N. pseudofonticola Hust. were observed within the mucilage tubes of four tube-forming diatoms: Cymbella prostrata (Berk.) Cl., C. prostrata var. auerswaldii (Rabh.) Reim., Navicula tripunctata var. schizonemoides (V.H.) Patr., and Nitzschia filiformis. Microscopical observations of live and preserved specimens indicated that “invasion” by Nitzschia occurred primarily in older tubes. Data are presented on the environmental conditions in which the tube-formers and their cohabitants have been found.     

PERIPHYTON COLONIZATION OF ROCK SURFACES IN A BOREAL FOREST STREAM STUDIED BY SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND TRACK AUTORADIOGRAPHY1

Periphyton colonization of natural rock surfaces and granite tiles was followed experimentally in the Matamek River, an acidic (pH 5.5) sixth order boreal stream in northeast Quebec, Canada. Accumulation of chlorophyll a and freshweight algal biomass was logarithmic over a 25 day colonization period. The major colonizers were Tabellaria flocculosa (Roth) Kütz., T. fenestrata (Lyngb.) Kütz., Mougeotia sp., and Eunotia pectinalis (Kütz) Rabh., and its varieties. The microcolonization sequence on granite tiles, followed over 27 days with scanning electron microscopy, showed an initial accumulation of algal cells on the upstream and downstream margins and in depressions, followed by a gradual filling-in of the flat surfaces. It is hypothesized that the observed slow rate of colonization was due to the high surface tension of the granite substratum and the absence of preconditioning by an organic film. It is further hypothesized that the increase in cellular carbon fixation rates of T. flocculosa measured over a 23 day period using nuclear track autoradiography parallels the development of an algal-detrital microcosm on the granite tile, and is evidence for the establishment of localized tight nutrient spiralling. It is suggested that the periphyton community may be regarded as a nutrient recycling system at a microenvironmental level which may be especially important in oligotrophic systems.     

SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OBSERVATIONS OF DEFORMITIES IN SMALL PENNATE DIATOMS EXPOSED TO HIGH CADMIUM CONCENTRATIONS1

Different types of malformations are likely to affect the morphology of diatoms when exposed to particularly unstable environmental conditions, the most easily identifiable being distortion of the whole frustule. In the present study, we investigated, by means of SEM, valve abnormalities induced by high cadmium contamination (100 μg · L^?1) in small pennate diatoms. Changes in the shape of Amphora pediculus (Kütz.) Grunow and anomalous sculpturing of the cell wall of many species, such as Encyonema minutum (Hilse) D. G. Mann, Mayamaea agrestris (Hust.) Lange‐Bert., Gomphonema parvulum (Kütz.) Kütz., or Eolimna minima (Grunow) Lange‐Bert., were observed, which were not, or almost not, noticeable in the LM. With consideration to current knowledge of diatom morphogenesis, metal uptake by the cell would induce, directly or indirectly, damage to many cytoplasmic components (e.g., microtubules, cytoskeleton, Golgi‐derived vesicles) involved in the precisely organized silica deposition. This study confirms that many species, whatever their size, are likely to exhibit morphological abnormalities under cadmium stress, and that this indicator may be valuable for the biomonitoring of metal contamination, even if SEM observations are not necessary for routine studies.     

THE DISTRIBUTION OF EDAPHIC DIATOMS ALONG ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENTS OF A LOUISIANA SALT MARSH1

Edaphic (sediment-associated) diatoms were collected from five sites along a gradient from slightly brackish to saline marsh on 30 November 1977 and 29 April 1978. Several environmental factors change along this gradient in addition to salinity, including tidal flushing and percent organic content of the soil. A total of 112 taxa were identified, with Amphora exigua Greg., Navicula phyllepta Kütz., N. salinarum Grun., and N. tripunctata (Müll.) Bory being among the five most abundant taxa on both sampling dates. The taxonomic composition of the diatom flora was very similar to those observed for other salt marshes located along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Diatom taxa were generally euryhaline and distributed continuously along the gradient from brackish to saline marsh. Species diversity (H¹) and the number of taxa in a sample (S) were also similar to those reported for other North American salt marshes. The number of taxa in a sample was higher in the saline than in the brackish area on both sampling dates while species diversity was greater in the saline area only in April.     

Life history of Cladophora surera sp. nov. (Cladophorales, Ulvophyceae)

The life history of Cladophora surera sp. Nov., described from the south of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was found to be diplobiontic and isomorphic with haploid gametophytic (n= 24) and sporophytic (2n= 48) plants. Other freshwater species, namely C, suhriana Kutz, and C. callicoma Kütz. have also been reported to be diplobiontic and isomorphic but differing from C. surera by their ploidy level. Plants exhibit great morphological variation, as the number of branches/mm² tends to increase with higher water velocity, thus adopting morphotypes that resemble very different species, that is, C. vagabunda (L.) Hoek, C. glomerata (L.) Kutz., C, laetevirens (Dillw.) Kutz., C. brasiliana Martens, C. dalmatica Kütz., C. vadorum (Aresch.) Kütz. and C. rivularis (L.) Hoek., but clearly differing from them by other morphological parameters; apical cell diameters, The ploidy level 24/48 has not been established for a species of Cladophora. Autogamy is the normal conjugation method and can take place even inside the gametangia before the gametes are released. Isogametes conjugate in a slow behavioral anisogamy, in which the contents of one migrate to the other. Tetra-flagellate zoospores result from meiosis.     

THE GLUCOSE TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF AMPHORA COFFEAEFORMIS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1

Amphora coffeaeformis (Ag.) Kütz. var. perpusilla (Grun.) Cleve took up glucose by an inducible transport system. The system was induced by d -fructose, d -mannose, as well as glucose. Some d -pentoses also induced a glucose uptake system but it may not be the same one as that induced by hexose. d -fructose, d -mannose and 2-deoxy-d -glucose inhibited 2 mM glucose uptake at equimolar concentration, but d -pentoses did not. The uptake system decayed in ca. 5 h in the absence of glucose. The half-saturation constant for uptake, K₈ was ca. 0.1 mM glucose with a maximum uptake rate, V_max= 0.4 nmol/10⁶ cells-min^?1.     

LOCALIZATION OF MICROCYSTIN SYNTHETASE GENES IN COLONIES OF THE CYANOBACTERIUM MICROCYSTIS USING FLUORESCENCE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION1

To better understand the production of microcystins (MCs) in Microcystis colonies, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methods were developed to detect DNA involved in the synthesis of these cyanobacterial hepatotoxins. Using colonies of Microcystis aeruginosa (Kütz.) Kütz. isolated from environmental blooms of cyanobacteria and from a colony‐forming, MC‐producing laboratory strain of Microcystis, amplified PCR products were observed, coincident with positive controls. The total MC content of individual colonies of Microcystis, determined by ELISA, showed a positive correlation with colony cross‐sectional area. FISH analysis of Microcystis colonies gave high fluorescence in comparison to negative controls, indicating the presence of MC synthetase DNA (mcyA) in situ. FISH analysis for MC synthetase genes has the potential to be developed into an effective early warning tool for drinking and recreational water management.     

On the identities of some neglected species of Grimmiaceae from Îles Kerguelen

Taxonomic status of five species of Grimmia Hedw. (G. minuta Müll.Hal., G. suborthotrichacea Müll.Hal., G. defoliata Müll.Hal., G. genuflexa Müll.Hal., and G. orthotrichacea Müll.Hal.) is appraised. All these species correctly belong within the genus Bucklandiella Roiv. They are actually inseparable from one another and represent a single species for which B. orthotrichacea (Müll.Hal.) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra is chosen as the final name. The remaining four names are considered its synonyms, all but G. genuflexa being new. All the names are lectotypified and some details of the leaves of G. minuta and G. defoliata are illustrated.