Taxonomic Studies on Some Freshwater Diatoms from the Eastern Terai Region, Nepal

Abstract

The present paper describes the morphology and distribution of 17 freshwater diatom species (Bacillariophyceae) collected from rivers, ponds, ditches and wetlands of the eastern Terai region, Nepal. They belong to the genera Cyclotella (1), Ceratoneis (1), Fragilaria (1), Eunotia (1), Navicula (3), Pinnularia (1), Gyrosigma (1), Gomphonema (2), Cymbella (3), Epithemia (1), and Hantzschia (2). Cyclotella meneghiniana Kuetz., Ceratoneis arcus (Ehr.) Kuetz., Fragilaria capucina Desmaz. var. mesolepta Rabenh., Eunotia lunaris (Ehr.) Grun., Navicula perrotettii Grun., Gomphonema lanceolatum fo. turris (Ehr. c.p.) Hust., and Cymbella tumida (Bréb.) Van. Heurck have previously been reported from the eastern Terai region but Navicula radiosa Kuetz., Gyrosigma kuetzingii (Grun.) Cl., Gomphonema sphaerophorum Ehr., Cymbella aspera (Ehr.) Cl, and Hantzschia amphioxys (Ehr.) Grun. var. capitata Muell. are new records for this area. Navicula gastrum Ehr., Pinnularia viridis (Nitzs.) Ehr. var. intermedia Cl., Cymbella reinhardtii Grun., Hust., Epithemia sorex Kuetz. and Hantzschia virgata (Roper) Grun. are new records for Nepal.

Key words: Algae, Bacillariophyceae, freshwater diatoms, Terai, Nepal

doi:10.3126/on.v4i1.498

Our Nature Vol.4(1) 2006 pp10-19