New epiphytic araphid diatoms in the genus Ulnaria (Bacillariophyta), collected from Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

Abstract

Two new epiphytic species of Ulnaria (Kützing) Compère, U. titicacaensis E. Morales, Ector & P.B. Hamilton and U. macilenta E. Morales, C.E. Wetzel & S.F. Rivera, are described from the Tiquina Strait, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. The taxa have distinctive morphological features and their separation from morphologically related taxa and from each other is predominantly based on features of the valve central area and type of colonies. Whereas most morphologically similar taxa have a clear unilateral central area and form ribbon-like colonies, U. titicacaensis has a central area which is large and depressed internally, square to rectangular fascia, forms pin-cushion-like colonies mainly on Cladophora species, and has large polyphosphate bodies located toward the frustule apices. In contrast, U. macilenta has a similar central area to that in U. titicacaensis, but has narrower valves, forms short palisade groupings arranged in pin-cushion-like colonies, mainly on Oedogonium species and has polyphosphate bodies distributed throughout the frustule lumen. Morphological and ecological aspects of both new taxa are discussed in the light of available literature.