Mallomonas pseudocoronata Prescott (Synurophyceae), a recent arrival in Scania, southern Sweden?

Abstract

Since the early 1960s, water chemistry and phytoplankton have been monitored in several lakes in Sweden. However, as early as 1900-1901, the German algologist Lemmermann investigated phytoplankton from lakes in Scania, southern Sweden. Several phytoplankton samples from these investigations were preserved and saved, and are deposited at the Department of Ecology in the University of Lund. These old samples have again been studied to assess potential changes in the phytoplankton community during the 20(th) century. Special emphasis has been focused on scaled chrysophytes. Since 1971 scaled chrysophytes from lakes and ponds in Scania have been investigated with SEM and/or TEM. This group of algae can at times be frequent in Scanian water bodies. Several scaled chrysophytes have endemic or restricted distribution. Mallomonas pseudocoronata Prescott, very common on the North American continent, has shown a restricted distribution outside the North American continent, only Japan, Russia and a subfossil record from Austria have been recorded. It had never been recorded from Sweden. In 2005, M. pseudocoronata was recorded for the first time in samples from Lake Borringesjon, Scania, and subsequently in eight more Scanian water bodies. Since M. pseudocoronata has not earlier been found in western and central Europe, it may be a new immigrant from America or Siberia, partially by transportation from migrating birds. (Less)