Abstract
An account is given of the occurrence of <em>Pediastrum</em> (<em>Chlorophyceae</em>, <em>Sphaeropleales</em>) in five eutrophic coastal lakes (Jamno, Bukowo, Gardno, Łebsko and Sarbsko) in northern Poland, together with morphological data of the species and more detailed taxonomic and ecological information for three taxa which appear to be rare world wide. These are <em>P. musterii</em>, <em>P. orientale</em> and <em>P. alternans</em>; the first is recorded for the first time from central Europe. <em>P. orientale</em> and <em>P. alternans</em> show considerable morphological variability under different environmental conditions, indicating the need for further studies. The studied lakes seem to be especially favourable for <em>Pediastrum</em>, with a total of eight species (15 taxa) in the phytoplankton noted during the summer. However, the relative frequency of the genus in the overall algal communities was low. The most frequent species were <em>P. boryanum</em>, <em>P. kawraiskyi</em> and <em>P. duplex</em> and these were accompanied by cyanobacteria, coccal green algae (<em>Chlorophyceae</em>, <em>Chlorococcales</em>) and diatoms (<em>Bacillariophyceae</em>). All the <em>Pediastrum</em> taxa were documented using LM and SEM.
Highlights
Green algae of the genus Pediastrum Meyen (Chlorophyceae, Sphaeropleales; Graham et al 2009) are often found in phytoplankton of lakes and ponds
More detailed accounts were prepared for the rare species, P. musterii, P. orientale and P. alternans, including notes on taxonomy, distribution and ecology
The studied material showed three species which appear to be especially rare in Poland, P. orientale, P. alternans and P. musterii, the last being the first record from central Europe
Summary
Green algae of the genus Pediastrum Meyen (Chlorophyceae, Sphaeropleales; Graham et al 2009) are often found in phytoplankton of lakes and ponds. They mainly live in fresh-water reservoirs; data from brackish and salty waters are rare (Parra 1979). Of the 24 Pediastrum species, only four, P. boryanum, P. duplex, P. simplex and P. tetras, have a really world-wide distribution and generally occur in eutrophic waters (Komárek and Jankovská 2001). Comm.), Japan (Komárek and Jankovská 2001) and South America (Tell and Mataloni 1990; Izaguirre and Vinocur 1994; Comas Gonzalez and Perez Bariero 2002), P. alternans has mainly been recorded from northern Europe (Nygaard 1949; Komárek and Jankovská 2001). Ecology of the rare Pediastrum species and varieties is still not well known (Parra 1979; Komárek and Jankovská 2001). Knowledge on the environmental requirements of these taxa can be useful for determination of trophocity or salinity in present-day, and past water bodies, because Pediastrum is well preserved in lake sediments and found in palynological samples (Jankovská and Komárek 1995; Dupont and Weinelt 1996; Lata3owa and Borówka 2006; Sarmaja-Korjonen et al 2006)
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