New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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New records of Spirogyra and Zygnema (Charophyceae, Chlorophyta) in New Zealand

Philip M. Novis

Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand
Email: novisp@landcareresearch.co.nz

Abstract  Filamentous zygnematalean algae frequently dominate periphyton assemblages in New Zealand streams, yet only 10 reliable species records of the most common genera, Spirogyra and Zygnema, exist. One of these species, S. clavata, was found again in a new survey of stream habitats, mainly in the South Island. Ten further species (nine of Spirogyra and one of Zygnema) are also described and identified. Morphology and interfertility are affected by polyploid series in Spirogyra, making current species concepts unsatisfactory. Identifications in this study emphasise zygospore ornamentation, which is the most stable and conserved character known.

Keywords  Spirogyra; Zygnema; Zygnematales; taxonomy; distribution; New Zealand

B02081; Online publication date 30 March 2004; Received 16 December 2002; accepted 23 June 2003
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2004, Vol. 42: 139-152
0028-825X/04/4201-0139 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004

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