Additions to the Diatom Flora of Water Bodies of Chelyabinsk Oblast

Diatom algae in phytoplankton of the Argazi Reservoir and lakes Arakul, Elovoe, Irtyash, Itkul, Bolshiye Kasli, Kirety, Bolshoi Kisegach, Sinara, Sungul, and Silach are studied for the first time using electron microscopy. Data on the species composition of the diatom flora in waters of Chelyabinsk oblast (79 taxa) are significantly updated. In total, 168 species and intraspecific taxa from 55 genera, including 9 new for the flora of Russia and 26 algae identified only at the genus level, were found in the water bodies under study. According to the generalized literature, databases, and original data, the highest taxonomic diversity of diatom algae is recorded in lakes Silach (174), Bolshoi Kisegach (159), and Sinara (146).