Addition of Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs (Conjugatophyceae, Desmidiaceae) records for the Northeast Region of Brazil

ABSTRACT

From the taxonomic study of desmids occurring in lotic and lentic environments in the North Coast Environmental Protection Area, Bahia, Brazil, we cataloged 35 taxa belonging to the genus Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs, of which 33 are being registered for the first time for the phycology flora of the Northeastern Brazil including little-known taxa and others rediscovered 100 years after the last citation, e.g., Cosmarium trinodulum Nordst. var. brasiliense Borge and Cosmarium horridum Borge. The materials studied were from samples collected in two periods, namely in the summer (January-March 2009) and winter (June-August 2009). Descriptions and comments with related taxa are provided, as well as the wide geographic distribution in Brazil.

Keywords:
biodiversity; desmids; freshwater algae; taxonomy