Planothidum audax sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta, Achnanthidiaceae), a new diatom from temporary streams in southern Portugal

Abstract

Several Planothidium species were found in samples from these streams, as part of an ongoing project to unravel the ecological features of their diatom communities (see methods in Novais et al. 2020). A small-valved Planothidium population called our attention due to its small size and the difficulty to see its features under light microscopy (LM). Upon scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, it became evident that we had found the new taxon presented below.