Licmophora species (Bacillariophyta: Licmophorales) from Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef) and Melbourne, Australia, in comparison with similar species from Guam: evidence for endemicity in a marine diatom genus

A prevailing hypothesis of microbial biogeography holds that all species are ubiquitous, but this may lead to fitting Pacific specimens into European taxa on the basis of light microscopy. There is now evidence of regional endemicity in freshwater diatoms in Australia and recent studies have shown large diversity in the Guam marine Licmophora flora. The aim was to compare Australian samples with Guam Licmophora spp., especially their girdle bands. Valves and girdle bands from samples collected from Australia and Micronesia were described from observations made via light and scanning-electron microscopy. Of the nine species present in Australian samples, six were previously undescribed. Species with unusual characters included Licmophora insolita Lobban & Emm.S.Santos sp. nov. with a novel location for the apical rimoportula and a Tharngan strip on the valvocopula; Licmophora ballerina Lobban & S.Blanco sp. nov., with distinctive 3rd and 4th pleurae; and the licmosphenioid Licmophora johnwestii Lobban & Emm.S.Santos sp. nov. Specimens resembling Licmophora debilis (Katz.) Grunow and L abbreviata C.Agardh, described from Europe, occurred in Great Barrier Reef samples. The study brings the Guam flora to 20 novel v. 2 matching Atlantic-European taxa. The proportion of new to known species in Australian and Guam samples suggests regional endemicity, at least being broadly different from European Licmophora floras.

Automated summary

A prevailing hypothesis suggests that microbial species are ubiquitous, but recent studies on freshwater diatoms in Australia and marine Licmophora flora in Guam have shown evidence of regional endemicity. This study compares Australian and Guam Licmophora species, particularly their girdle bands, using light and scanning-electron microscopy.