Fottea 2024, 24(1):42-60 | DOI: 10.5507/fot.2023.010

Hidden complexity: An assessment of species diversity within the genus Discostella (Bacillariophyta)

Konrad Schultz1*, Mirko Dreßler1, 4, Olivier Jacques2, Armin Springer3, Marcus Frank3, Thomas Hübener1
1 Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Wismarsche Str. 44/45, 18051 Rostock, Germany; *Corresponding author e-mail: konrad.schultz@uni-rostock.de
2 Laboratoire de paléoécologie aquatique (LPA), Département de géographie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
3 Medical Biology and Electron Microscopy Centre, Rostock University Medical Center, Strempelstraße 14, 18057 Rostock, Germany
4 Physical Geography, Institute for Geography and Geology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Str. 16, 17487 Greifswald, Germany

The centric diatom genus Discostella is common in freshwater communities worldwide. Sixteen extant species are currently known, many of which are morphologically very similar. In applied taxonomy mostly broader concepts of D. stelligera and D. pseudostelligera are used. To assess the species diversity of the genus, 58 strains were cultivated and investigated using morphometric and molecular methods, obtaining the first multi-gene phylogeny of Discostella. Up to 22 operational taxonomic units were identified. For the taxonomic assignment of the OTUs a detailed morphological analysis including several type materials was performed. Up to 15 OTUs did not fit any existing taxon, revealing previously undetected diversity in the genus. A comparison of the different molecular markers revealed hints of a more complex intrageneric structure possibly due to reticulate evolutionary processes. The identity and generic placement of D. glomerata is resolved and D. angainor sp. nov. is described.

Keywords: Bacillariophyta, cox1, Discostella, DNA barcoding, LSU, phylogeny, rbcL, species diversity, SSU

Received: October 8, 2022; Revised: April 18, 2023; Accepted: April 19, 2023; Prepublished online: March 12, 2024; Published: March 27, 2024  Show citation

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Schultz, K., Dreßler, M., Jacques, O., Springer, A., Frank, M., & Hübener, T. (2024). Hidden complexity: An assessment of species diversity within the genus Discostella (Bacillariophyta). Fottea, 24(1), 42-60. doi: 10.5507/fot.2023.010
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