Revision of type materials of antarctic diatom species (Bacillariophyta) described by West & West (1911), with the description of two new species

• Main Authors: Van de Vijver, Bart, Tavernier, Ines, Kellogg, Thomas B, Gibson, John, Verleyen, Elie, Vyverman, Wim, Sabbe, Koen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; type material; new species; morphology; diatoms; Bacillariophyta; Antarctica; West & West; GENUS MUELLERIA BACILLARIOPHYTA; MCMURDO DRY VALLEYS; EAST ANTARCTICA; FRESH-WATER; ISLANDS; HILLS; FLORA; LAKES; NOV; Antarctic; East Antarctica; McMurdo Dry Valleys; Ross Island; Royds; Cape Royds; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/3229408; http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-3229408; https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/3229408/file/3229634

In 1911, W. & G.S. West published a detailed account of freshwater algae collected by James Murray in the vicinity of Cape Royds on Ross Island (Antarctic Continent). Out of of 84 algal taxa reported, 30 were diatoms. Although the majority of the diatoms were considered (at that time) to be cosmopolitan, eight diatom species and two varieties were described as new. While most of these new taxa are still commonly reported from Antarctic and Subantarctic localities, the exact identity of some remains uncertain. Here we document the morphology of these species from the original type material using light and scanning electron microscopy; the taxonomic identities are discussed and, where necessary, the taxonomy is updated. For several species, lectotypes are designated. In addition, two Antarctic species are described as new: Luticola pseudomurrayi VAN DE VIJVER et TAVERNIER sp. nov. and Chamaepinnularia gibsonii VAN DE VIJVER sp. nov.