Diversity and Taxonomy of Chrysophytes from the Pasvik State Nature Reserve (Russia)

Pasvik State Nature Reserve is situated in the Arctic zone and its chrysophyte flora is poorly studied. The diversity of the golden-brown algae (chrysophytes) from the Paz river, as well as the peat-bog on its bank, has been investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Overall, 34 chrysophyte taxa have been recorded. They represent fifteen genera from five orders. A new species of Synura, S. skaloudiorum, has been described. Morphologically, it resembles S. hibernica, a species restricted in its distribution to Ireland and Newfoundland, but differs mainly in size and structure of the apical scales. Nomenclatural issues on the selected chrysophyte taxa are discussed. The name Kephyrion starmachii was invalidly published, and it was validated. The new nomenclatural combination Chrysothecopsis tubulosus has been proposed. Also, Dinobryon sertularia var. annulatum Shi and Wei has been synonymized with D. annulatum Hilliard and Asmund.