Contribution to the knowledge of algae of Nigeria. I. Desmids from the Warri/Forcados Estuaries. Part II. The elongate baculiform desmids

Abstract

The freshwater zones of the Warri/Forcados Estuaries contain a rich and diverse flora of tropical desmids, which compare favourably and show strong affinities with desmids from other parts of Africa, tropical South America, Southeast Asia, tropical Australia and the Indian sub-continent. In this study, ninety (90) taxa belonging to seventeen (18) elongate baculiform and colonial genera are described. Fifty (50) of the taxa have been described for the first time for Nigeria, while nineteen (19) of them are new to Africa. Part 1 in this series of studies was devoted to the desmid genera Euastrum and Micrasterias. Based on new findings, a new taxon, Pleurotaenium subcoronulatum (Turner) W. West & G.S. West var. spinulosum Opute var. nova. has been proposed.

Keywords

• algae
• desmids
• phytoplankton
• freshwater
• estuaries
• tropical
• Nigeria