The study was conducted in the old, historical park, in the northern part of Stalowa Wola city (south-eastern Poland). The aim of the study was to investigate the diversity of moss-inhabiting diatoms of the white poplar (Populus alba L.) bark. During the study, a total of 47 diatom taxa were...

The genus Nupela Vyverman & Compère comprises 81 species, which have been reported from different continents. This study presents the morphological characteristics of Nupela brevistriata sp. nov. found in moss samples collected from soil and tree bark in Southeast Asia, on the islands of Palambak and Sumatra. Light and scanning electron microscope observations are presented and a formal description is offered for the new species. Nupela brevistriata sp. nov. is characterized by the valves having very short striae, capitate apices and a large central and axial area; it occurred rarely (<2%) in assemblages dominated by typically terrestrial species, such as members of Ferocia Van de Vijver & Houk, Angusticopula Houk, Klee & H. Tanaka, Luticola D.G. Mann, Humidophila Lowe et al. and Hantzschia Grunow.

In this study, samples were collected from the Java Sea coasts, from the South China Sea in Hainan Island coasts and Quảng Yên region and Rú Chá mangrove near Hue in Central Vietnam. In studied samples a total of eight Luticola species have been observed. Three of the taxa studied are described herein as species new to science – Luticola orientalis sp. nov., L. cribriareolata sp. nov. and L. halongiana sp. nov. Under light microscopy (LM) L. orientalis sp. nov. and L. cribriareolata sp. nov. are similar with rhombic-lanceolate to rhombic/ elliptic-lanceolate to elliptic valve shapes and narrowly rounded apices. Both species can be easily distinguished by stria density (higher density in L. orientalis). Under SEM L. cribriareolata is characterized by cribrate areola occlusions, a character thus far observed only in three established species. The remaining species of the whole genus known thus far are characterized by hymenate areola. Similar morphology Luticola species have been observed from tropical mangrove forests from Madagascar but they all can be easily distinguished based on the lack of grooves in the central area. The third species – L. halongiana sp. nov. has rhombic-elliptic to rhombic-lanceolate valves with broadly rounded to slightly protracted apices in larger specimens. This species has a relatively broad central area. Also unique among brackish-water Luticola is the small, rounded stigma positioned almost midway between the valve center and valve margin. In the habitats from which the new species are described we also identified five established Luticola taxa including, L. belawanensis, L. celebesica, L. inserata, L. seposita and L. tropica. For those species we provide detailed SEM characteristics of valve ultrastructure, as well as the range of environmental conditions and geographic distribution within the study area.

Although many studies have examined the algae associated with various habitats in tree trunks, the diatoms in these environments are still poorly studied. Studies of corticolous algae mainly focus on green algae and cyanobacteria, which are usually immediately visible, while diatoms are mostly overlooked or not reported. During the research, 143 species of diatoms were identified, including two new representatives of the genus Luticola: L. bryophilasp. nov. with relatively large central area and short distal raphe endings and L. confusasp. nov. characterized by the presence of small depressions on central raphe endings. Both are described herein based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations and compared to similar taxa based on literature data. Basic morphological data for almost all the diatom taxa are noted, and their habitat requirements, and photographic documentation are also presented. The present research showed that the occurrence of diatom assemblages on tree trunks is influenced by various factors like host tree species, the area where the host tree grows, and the availability of suitable microhabitats within the trunk. However, the species composition of this assemblages depends mainly on the tree species.

The Terebowiec stream is an 8 km long watercourse which flows through the strictly protected Bieszczady National Park. The studies on bentic diatoms were conducted between 2013–2015 at three sampling sites along the Terebowiec stream and its unnamed tributary. 260 diatom taxa were identified in...