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Type: Article
Published: 2012-09-26
Page range: 1–8
Abstract views: 21
PDF downloaded: 13

Five new species of Stauroneis (Bacillariophyta, Stauroneidaceae) from the northern Rocky Mountains, USA

The Montana Diatom Collection, 1032 12th Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 USA
Biodiversity conservation diatoms endemic species USA Algae

Abstract

Five new species of Stauroneis are described from the northern Rocky Mountains—S. clarkii, S. lewisii, S. sacajaweae, S. spauldingiae, and S. thompsonii—for a total of 21 new Stauroneis species from the region. All of the new species are local or regional endemics. Water bodies supporting populations of Stauroneis tend to be small, remote, isolated, circumneutral, oligo- or dystrophic, and with low levels of electrolytes. These findings have implications for estimating diatom biodiversity and for conserving endemic diatom species and their habitats.