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.     

Freshwater Rotifera from plankton of the Kerguelen Islands (Subantarctica)

During the austral summer 1997/98, a survey was made of a series of freshwater bodies on the Kerguelen Islands, Subantarctica (49° S–69° E), in the area of Port-aux- Français and Val Studer. The rotifer fauna from plankton of 17 lentic freshwaters is listed and commented upon. Species richness (39 taxa) and species diversity are fairly low. Only 6 taxa are euplanktic, the others are facultative plankters or littoral/benthic species. Three of the true plankters found are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, whereas the rest of the rotifers (apart from two unidentified monogononts) shows a wide-spread or cosmopolitan distribution. Thirty-three taxa are new to the Kerguelen archipelago. A comparison is made with the rotifer assemblages observed on other Subantarctic islands. Taxonomic notes on little known species are added. The validity of Cephalodella gibba microdactyla as separate subspecies is rejected, and Filinia terminalis kergueleniensisis recognized as junior synonym of F. pejleri.     

Biogeography and ecology of freshwater diatoms in Subantarctica: a review

Subantarctica is situated between the Antarctic and the Subtropical Convergence and consists of the islands in the southern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Diatoms are an important component of all Subantarctic aquatic, moss and soil habitats. Taxonomic studies reveal a high diversity and species richness in both the present-day and the fossil diatom flora. Planktonic diatoms are almost completely absent. A similarity analysis of the diatom composition from different localities in the southern zone (below 40°S) resulted in a biogeographical zonation. Three regions could be formed, based on their diatom composition: Subantarctica, Maritime Antarctica and the Antarctic Continent. The diatom communities in the different regions are all characterized by a high proportion of cosmopolitan species. A second feature of the southern diatom floras is the decreasing diversity when moving southwards.