Valve morphology of the benthic diatom Fallacia marnieri (Manguin) Witkowski (Sellaphoraceae - Bacillariophyta)

• Published in: Brazilian Journal of Biology
• Main Authors: L. K. Procopiak, L. F. Fernandes
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Internacional de Ecologia
• Subjects: diatom; Fallacia marnieri; Bacillariophyta; benthic; microphytobenthos; Antarctic; Science; Q; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Zoology; QL1-991; Botany; QK1-989; Antarctic Peninsula; King George Island; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-69842003000100015; https://doaj.org/article/5ac0a6cd5fa7408695b7ac2bb6fc086a

The genus Fallacia Stickle & Mann includes naviculoid birraphid diatoms with H-like plastids, valves with uniseriate striae and covered by porous conopea, rounded areolae occluded by hymens, and depressed hyaline lyriform area characterizing the valvar surface. The species Fallacia marnieri was found in samples collected in King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula, on which an electron microscopy study and literature revision were carried out. From this investigation, we found that since Fallacia marnieri has the diagnostic structures of the genus, its recent inclusion in Fallacia is justified. The species was found on rocks of an intertidal region, and seems to be endemic in cold regions, as indicated in the literature.