Resumo Objetivo As relações entre composição de espécies e padrões de variação nas comunidades de diatomáceas foram exploradas em seis reservatórios tropicais localizados no sudeste do Brasil. Métodos Diatomáceas fitoplanctônicas e de sedimentos superficiais foram determinadas e a Análise de Correspondência Canônica foi utilizada para identificar o conjunto de variáveis ambientais que melhor explica a variação da composição das espécies entre as unidades amostrais. Resultados O total de 28 táxons de diatomáceas representando 20 gêneros foi identificado utilizando microscopia de luz e eletrônica de varredura; e foram fornecidas informações sobre suas preferências ecológicas. Humidophila biscutella é reportada pela primeira vez no Brasil e Sellaphora sassiana e Humidophila brekkaensis foram registradas pela primeira vez no Estado de São Paulo. Foram delineados três grupos de potenciais indicadores da qualidade da água que sugerem condições oligotróficas, águas com baixa luminosidade e em regime de mistura além de um pequeno grupo de espécies tolerantes ocorrentes em águas com elevada condutividade, pH e total fósforo total. Conclusão O presente estudo forneceu uma primeira visão sobre as comunidades de diatomáceas em geral de seis reservatórios tropicais do sudeste do Brasil e providenciou informação sobre sua ecologia e distribuição, contribuindo para o conhecimento das diatomáceas tropicais com vista à bioavaliação. Os grupos potenciais de diatomáceas indicadores de qualidade da água delineados seguem o reportado na literatura e reforçam a importância da PEJU para a manutenção da qualidade ecológica dos reservatórios e condições de referência para as fontes de água da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo.

Abstract Aim Relationships between species composition and variation patterns in diatom assemblages over six tropical reservoirs located in Southeast Brazil were explored. Methods Surface-sediment and phytoplankton diatom assemblages were determined and Canonical Correspondence Analysis was used to verify the set of environmental variables that best explain the species composition variation among sites. Results A total of 28 diatom taxa representing 20 genera were identified using light and scanning electron microscopy. Information on their ecological preferences was also provided. Humidophila biscutella is reported for the first time in Brazil whereas Sellaphora sassiana and Humidophila brekkaensis are reported for the first time in São Paulo State. Three groups of potential water quality indicators were delineated: the first suggests oligotrophic conditions, the second is related to cold waters with low luminosity in a mixing regime, and the third is a small group of tolerant species occurring in water with high conductivity, pH and total phosphorus conditions. Conclusion present study provided the first insight into the general diatom communities over six tropical reservoirs in Southeast Brazil and provided information on their ecology and distribution aiming bioassessment. The potential of water quality indicator diatom groups here outlined are in line with those reported in the literature and reinforce the importance of PEJU for the maintenance of ecological quality of reservoirs and reference conditions for the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo water sources.

ABSTRACT A light brown colored massive algal proliferation found in a large area of Rio Laja, Chile was studied. The bloom was produced by Gomphoneis minuta, a gomphonemoid diatom forming large branched stalks attached to submerged rocks. At first glance and on account the macroscopic appearance, this type of proliferation could be confused with that of Didymosphenia geminata. Considering its massive presence in Rio Laja and increased distribution in Chilean waters, as well is occurring in many European and American rivers, we postulate that G. minuta could be a nuisance species in Chilean rivers, and similar to D. geminata, it must be controlled to verify its propagation in the country.

Se reporta una floración de Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz. en el plancton de la laguna Alalay, un ecosistema salobre urbano, altamente eutrófico. Las colonias de la cianobacteria estaban a su vez colonizadas por la diatomea Nitzschia palea (Kütz.) W. Sm., una co-ocurrencia que ha sido reportada anteriormente solo dos veces en la literatura. Como parte de la agrupación también se observaron bacterias pleomorfas cuya identidad no se ha establecido. Observaciones de campo y laboratorio, así como una revisión bibliográfica extensa, sugieren que la unión de los tres tipos de organismos es simbiótica, asegurando un suministro constante de nutrientes de origen exógeno y endógeno. Nitzschia palea, además de obtener nutrientes, también se beneficia al mantenerse suspendida en la parte superior de la zona fótica donde la disponibilidad de luz y nutrientes es mayor. En este manuscrito se exploran diversos argumentos para dar sustento a la hipótesis de la simbiosis, como un primer paso hacia la investigación fisiológica y molecular de la asociación.

A bloom of Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz. is reported from the plankton of Alalay Pond, a brackish, urban and highly eutrophic ecosystem. The cyanobacterial colonies were in turn colonized by the diatom Nitzschia palea (Kütz.) W. Sm. This co-occurrence has been previously reported only twice in the literature. As part of the grouping, pleomorphic bacteria were also observed, but their identity could not be established. Field and laboratory observations, as well as a literature revision, suggest that the association of the three types of organisms is symbiotic, assuring a continuous supply of nutrients of exogenous and endogenous origin. Besides obtaining nutrients, Nitzschia palea also benefits from suspension in the upper part of the photic zone, where availability of light and nutrients is higher. In this manuscript, diverse arguments to support the symbiosis hypothesis are explored as a first step towards the physiological and molecular investigation of the association.

Se transfiere Melosira cataractarum Hust. al género Pseudostaurosira D.M. Williams & Round a partir de un análisis detallado del material tipo proveniente de Java (Archipiélago Malayo), mediante microscopía óptica y electrónica de barrido. Inicialmente, la especie se describió como una diatomea “céntrica” dentro del género Melosira C. Agardh y fue transferida luego al género Aulacoseira Thwaites. Pseudostaurosira cataractarum (Hust.) C.E. Wetzel, E. Morales & Ector comb. nov. se diferencia de las otras especies dentro del género por su tamaño más pequeño, la disposición radial de las estrías y por la ausencia de campos de poros apicales. Adicionalmente, se propone la transferencia al género Pseudostaurosira de Fragilaria sopotensis Witkowski & Lange-Bert., una especie morfológicamente similar a P. cataractarum.

The transfer of Melosira cataractarum Hust. to the genus Pseudostaurosira D.M. Williams & Round is presented based on a detailed analysis of the type material from Java (Malay Archipelago) using light and scanning electron microscopy. The species was initially described as a “centric” diatom within the genus Melosira C. Agardh and was later transferred to the genus Aulacoseira Thwaites. Pseudostaurosira cataractarum (Hust.) C.E. Wetzel, E. Morales & Ector comb. nov. differs from other species of the genus by its smaller size, typical radiate striae arrangement and absence of apical pore fields. We additionally propose the transfer of Fragilaria sopotensis Witkowski & Lange-Bert. to the genus Pseudostaurosira, a species that is morphologically similar to P. cataractarum.

Specimens of Craspedostauros indubitabilis (Lange-Bertalot & Genkal) E.J. Cox from a sample taken in Bahía Salada, Caldera, Chile (27°38'S-71°00'W) were acid cleaned and examined by light and electron microscopy. The genus and the species are reported for the first time from Chilean marine coastal waters. Craspedostauros was described in 1999 by Cox for some marine biraphid diatoms previously placed in Stauroneis Ehrenberg and Stauronella Mereschkowsky. The genus is recognized by its cribrate areolae, narrow stauros, numerous girdle bands and two chloroplasts fore and aft of the central cytoplasm. According to the Chilean material, Craspedostauros indubitabilis is characterized by its linear-elliptic to lanceolate valves usually with rounded ends, the striae (22-30 in 10 μΓη) are parallel in the valve centre and slightly convergent near the apices, the areolae adjacent to the raphe are much larger than over the rest of the valve, each areolae is occluded by 3 to 13 pores, and a knob of silica separates the central internal raphe endings. A diagnosis is here included for this taxon based on the characteristics observed in the Chilean material. The presented photomicrographs aim to provide information about the main morphological features.

Especímenes de Craspedostauros indubitabilis (Lange-Bertalot & Genkal) E.J. Cox provenientes de una muestra recolectada en Bahía Salada, Caldera, Chile (27°38'S-71°00'W) fueron oxidados y examinados mediante técnicas de microscopía fotónica y electrónica. El género y la especie son señalados por primera vez para las aguas marinas costeras de Chile. Craspedostauros fue descrito por Cox en 1999 para reunir algunas diatomeas marinas birrafidales, ubicadas hasta esa fecha en los géneros Stauroneis Ehrenberg y Stauronella Mereschkowsky. El género puede ser reconocido por sus aréolas provistas de cribra, un estauro angosto, numerosas bandas en el cingulum y dos cloroplastos en forma de H con una peculiar disposición en la zona central. De acuerdo con el material chileno, Craspedostauros indubitabilis se caracteriza por poseer valvas linear-elípticas a lanceoladas con extremos generalmente redondeados, las estrías (22-30 en 10 μπι) son paralelas en el centro de la valva y levemente convergentes cerca de los extremos, las aréolas adyacentes al rafe son de mayor tamaño que las restantes, cada aréola está ocluida por 3 a 13 poros, y un engrosamiento de sílice separa los extremos proximales internos del rafe. Se provee una diagnosis de este taxón basado en las características observadas en el material chileno. Las fotomicrografías que se presentan entregan información acerca de sus principales características morfológicas.

Teratological forms of diatoms are non-adaptive phenotypic abnormalities caused by various environmental stresses. Heavy metal contamination and artificial growth conditions are the best known causes. In fact, the recording of abnormal cells in a diatom population or community can give both a temporal and quantitative indication of heavy metal contamination of water bodies. Moreover, long-term cultures generally present a high percentage of abnormal cells due to the scarcity of nutrients, presence of waste products and osmotic pressure. The aim of this paper is to classify and provide photographic documentation and descriptions of all known teratologies occurring in the most widespread freshwater diatom genera.