Distribution of silica-scaled Chrysophyceae (Paraphysomonadaceae and Mallomonadaceae) in Australian inland waters

Abstract

Thirty-two species of silica-scaled Chrysophyceae of the genera Spiniferomonas, Chrysosphaerella and Paraphysomonas, belonging to the Paraphysomonadaceae Preisig & Hibberd, 1983, and Mallomonas, Mallomonopsis and Synura, belonging to the Mallomonadaceae (Diesing, 1866) Preisig & Hibberd, 1983, are recognized by electron microscopy from a wide range of Australian freshwater habitats, from tropical to temperate regions, and from a range of trophic types of lake. Eleven species are reported from Australia for the first time, and three from the Southern Hemisphere for the first time. Although most of the species are of worldwide occurrence, several are as yet known only from Australia. Several highly dystrophic lakes in Tasmania are particularly rich in species numbers and in population densities.