Algae from Livingston Island (S Shetland Islands): a checklist

• Main Author: Ralitsa P. Zidarova
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Antarctic; Livingston Island; South Shetland Islands; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.594.4795; http://www.bio.bas.bg/~phytolbalcan/PDF/14_1/14_1_03_Zidarova.pdf

Abstract. An investigation of the algal flora of Livingston Island was carried out during four consecutive Antarctic summer seasons (2003–2006). Direct microscopic analysis and culture studies revealed a diverse and rich algal flora of 302 taxa (286 species, 15 varieties and one form) from four divisions: Cyanoprokaryota, Bacillariophyta, Ochrophyta, and Chlorophyta. Bacillariophyta and Cyanoprokaryota dominate in terms of species diversity. One hundred and four species, 13 varieties and one form are reported for the first time for Livingston Island. Twenty-eight species are new records for the South Shetland Islands and 13 species are new records for Maritime Antarctica. Eighteen species and six varieties are new reports for Antarctica. A full list of algae found on Livingston Islands with their Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic distribution is presented. LM and SEM micrographs of some of the taxa and short descriptions of the new records for Antarctica are provided.