Nova Hedwigia Vol. 95 issue 1–2, 1–24 Article published online June 11, 2012 Lakes and pools of Aquitaine region (France) – a biodiversity hotspot of Synurales in Europe Yvonne Němcová, Jana Kreidlová, Alena Kosová and Jiří Neustupa Dept. of Botany, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic With 74 fi gures and 2 tables Němcová, Y., J. Kreidlová, A. Kosova & J. Neustupa 2012: Lakes and pools of Aquitaine region (France) – a biodiversity hotspot of Synurales in Europe. – Nova Hedwigia 95: 1–24. Abstract: A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region that is a signifi cant reservoir of species diversity. In free-living protists, the ratio of local to global diversity may help to identify hotspots within certain taxonomic groups. In this study, we concentrated on silica-scaled chrysophytes of lakes and wetland habitats of Aquitaine, south-western France. With fi fty-eight identifi ed taxa the Aquitaine region represents one of the world biodiversity hotspots of Synurales. Moreover, several rare and/or endemic species were recorded in this region. We report frequent occurrence of Mallomonas adamas not only in peaty pools but also in mesotrophic to eutrophic lakes. Mallomonas alata f. hualvensis and M. alphaphora lost the status of a South American and Australian endemics, respectively. Microphotographs of M. koreana scales and bristles, obtained in a transmission electron microscope, are provided. Mallomonas koreana has been described recently by means of scanning electron microscopy. Mallomonas phasma is reported for the second time since its original description in 1960. We also provide a fi gure of the whole cell armor of M. tubulosa including the description of bristles, which have not been observed yet. High density of waterbodies in the Aquitaine region, comprising diverse meso- and oligotrophic habitats, may provide a rich regional pool of Synurales resulting in the high diverse communities on a local level. Keywords: biodiversity hotspot, local vs. global diversity, Synurales, Chrysophyceae, silica scales, endemics, Aquitaine. Introduction A biodiversity "hotspot" is indicated by an exceptionally high ratio of local to global species diversity (Foissner 2006). In general, freshwater biodiversity hotspots receive less attention than their terrestrial or marine counterparts (Myers et al. 2000). Whereas coral reefs are among the most intensively explored marine ecosystems (Roberts et al. 2002), identifi cation of individual diversity hotspots in freshwater ecosystems is far from complete. There is even a lack of basic global mapping of inland waters in many parts of the world (Balmford et al. 2002). Freshwater hotspots have mostly been © 2012 J. Cramer in Gebr. Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, www.borntraeger-cramer.de Germany. DOI: 10.1127/0029-5035/2012/0036 0029-5035/2012/0036 $ 6.00 1 defi ned on the basis of vertebrate diversity (e.g. the Mekong drainage basin, which has fi sh richness in the order of 1700 species; Dudgeon et al. 2005). Adequate data on the diversity of free living freshwater protists still do not exist (Šlapeta et al. 2005, Foissner 2006). In protists, the ratio of local to global diversity was fi rst used by Fenchel et al. (1997), who estimated that about 10% of global ciliate diversity could be detected in local samples. However, it is diffi cult to estimate local versus global diversity when the global species richness of free-living protists is unknown, and estimates differ by several orders of magnitude (Foissner 2006). Recent genomic data support the idea that microbial diversity is considerably higher than can be inferred from non-molecular evidence (John & Maggs 1997, Richards & Bass 2005). Thus a more appropriate defi nition for a hotspot of free-living protists would be an area with a high percentage of total species known including the rare ones. Synurales, a distinct lineage within the class Chrysophyceae (Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006), comprises colonial or single-celled fl agellates enclosed within a case built from precisely organized silica scales. Ornamented siliceous components, including scales and bristles (in Mallomonas), are taxonomically diagnostic. The morphological concept based on the ultrastructure of silica scales and bristles is well-established and broadly accepted. Populations of these organisms may be detected in the environment by investigation of sediments in which siliceous remnants are preserved for a prolonged period of time. About 220 taxa of Synurales have so far been described (Kristiansen & Preisig 2007). However, several new species are added every year (e.g. Kim & Kim 2008, Němcová et al. 2008, Němcová et al. 2011). Although perhaps half of the species are cosmopolitan or widely-distributed, high levels of local endemism and regional fl uctuations in species-richness seem typical of Synurales (Kristiansen 2001, Kristiansen & Lind 2005, Pichrtová et al. 2007). In this study, we concentrated on Synurales in lakes and wetland habitats of Aquitaine, southwestern France. Exceptionally rich species lists of desmids (Capdevielle 1982, Kouwets 1991, 1998), as well as of some other microalgal groups (Capdevielle 1982, 1985), were reported from this region. In addition, different freshwater habitats of Aquitaine were identifi ed as possible refugia for a number of predominantly tropical and subtropical phytoplankton taxa (e.g. Cyanodictyon tropicale, Planktolyngbya microspira, Staurastrum excavatum var. planctonicum or Triplastrum spinulosum) by Cellamare et al. (2009). However, silica-scaled chrysophytes of this region have not been investigated, except for a few light microscopical studies by Bourrelly (1947, 1951, 1957) and Mignot & Brugerolle (1982) who studied scale morphology by means of electron microscopy. In this study, we investigated samples of phytoplankton and/or recent sediment from 29 localities. We aimed to identify species richness of Synurales in the Aquitaine region. Moreover, additional information on scale, scale-case, bristle structure and on biogeography of six endemic or rare species (Mallomonas adamas Harris & Bradley, M. alata f. hualvensis Asmund, Cronberg & Dürrschmidt, M. alphaphora Preisig, M. koreana H.S.Kim & J.H.Kim, M. phasma Harris & Bradley and M. tubulosa Barreto) is provided. As Synurales are considered bioindicators of unpolluted freshwater environments (e.g. Kristiansen 1988), this inventory may also serve as a baseline for future studies of human impact assessment in the Aquitaine region. 2 Fig. 1. Map of the investigated area. The stations are indicated by numbers referring to the text and Tables 1 and 2. Materials and methods The Aquitaine Basin, situated in the south-western part of France, is mostly composed of tertiary and quaternary sediments. Most of the localities for this study were selected from the Landes region, comprising the western part of Aquitaine, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. This region is based on quaternary sands of fl uvial and eolic origin (Debelmas 1974). The Landes region suffered from severe anthropogenic deforestation in the Middle Ages, but forests were extensively replanted in the second half of the 19th century. Currently, the Landes forest (Forêt des Landes) is considered to be the largest continuous forest stand in western and central Europe. It is largely formed of Pinus pinaster Ait. stands, supplemented by deciduous Quercus pubescens Willd. and, in the southern part of the region, also by Mediterranean cork oak (Quercus suber L.). The mean January temperature of the Landes region generally exceeds 5°C, with maximum levels reaching approximately 7.5°C in the southern parts of the region. There are approximately 10 to 30 frost days, i.e. days when the minimum daily temperature drops below freezing point, but the daily maxima mostly remains above 0°C values year-round. The freshwater localities are therefore generally not exposed to prolonged freezing. These mild climatic conditions are also refl ected by the natural occurrence of several rather subtropical, Mediterranean, species of vascular plants, such as Arbutus unedo L., Quercus suber, Ruscus aculeatus L., Smilax aspera L. and Viburnum tinus L.. The relatively high annual precipitation, varying between 950 and 1100 mm, and the low permeability of bedrock clay layers, resulted in the establishment of numerous freshwater habitats within the region. Many of them, including the largest lakes, such as Étang de Cazaux, Grand Étang de Biscarrosse and Lac de Lacanau, have their origin in natural enclosures separated by eolic sand dunes from the marine environment during the Quaternary (Beaujeu-Garnier 1972). 3 The stations investigated in our study were sampled in February and May 2010. Except for station no. 14, samples were taken only once. Water temperature, pH and conductivity were measured at the time of collection, with a combined pH-conductometer WTW 340. Plankton samples (20 mm- mesh net) were combined with water squeezed from the submerged vegetation. Additionally, the surface layer of the sediment (approximately the upper 2 mm) was investigated separately to record the community of silica-scaled chrysophytes inhabiting the locality in the previous ca. two years. Water samples were centrifuged or concentrated by sedimentation. Subsequently, unfi xed drops of the sample were dried onto Formvar-coated transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids. Dried material was washed by repeated transfer of the grid into drops of deionized water dispensed onto the hydrophobic surface of a Parafi lm® strip. Dried grids were examined with a JEOL 1011 TEM. For scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Lugol fi xed samples were washed by repeated centrifugation in deionized water, a drop was dried onto a piece of aluminium foil, which was mounted onto an SEM stub with double-sided adhesive carbon tape, coated with gold for 5 minutes (3 nm layer) with a Bal-Tec SCD 050 sputter coater, and observed with a JEOL 6380 LV scanning electron microscope. Results and discussion Fifty-eight taxa (Table 2), comprising the genera Chrysodidymus, Mallomonas and Synura, were observed in samples from lakes and pools in the Aquitaine region, which represent more than a quarter of the known taxa. Between 3 and 30 taxa were found per collection site. Collection sites, accompanied by main physico-chemical parameters, are listed in Table 1. Considering that only a few studies of silica-scaled chrysophytes from the territory of France were have been published, it was not surprising that most taxa were found for the fi rst time for France (see Table 2). Mallomonas calceolus, M. papillosa, Synura echinulata, S. mammillosa, S. petersenii and S. sphagnicola were the most frequently-detected species, found in over fi fteen localities; in contrast Mallomonas alpina, M. lelymene, M. mangofera, M. pillula f. exannulata, M. portae- ferreae, M. pumilio, M. koreana, M. retifera and M. tolerans were each only found at a single site. Only selected species are discussed in more detail. Mallomonas adamas (Fig. 3) is a rare species with a scattered distribution so far reported in peaty pools (Harris & Bradley 1960, Nováková et al. 2004, Němcová 2010). Here, we report frequent occurrence of M. adamas, not only in peaty pools (site nos. 14, 15), but also in mesotrophic to eutrophic lakes (site nos. 2, 12, 19, 20, 22, 26, 28). The trophic status of the investigated sites was estimated with respect to planktonic community composition. Ecological requirements were spanned from acidic to circumneutral (pH 5–7.4; conductivity 123–324 μS · cm -1). Mallomonas alata f. hualvensis (Figs 7–8) was described in 1982 based on samples from Southern Chile (Asmund, Cronberg & Düerrschmidt 1982). To date, M. alata f. hualvensis has been considered endemic to South America (Kristiansen & Preisig 2007). Scales of M. alata f. hualvensis differ from those of M. alata f. alata in the elaboration of the shield reticulum. On the shield of M. alata f. alata, several pores are enclosed within each mesh, whereas on the shield of M. alata f. hualvensis, there is only one pore at the bottom of each mesh. We observed a population with scales that had extremely broad and wing-like anterior fl ange. Fig. 8 shows how the scales are organized on the surface of the cell. The wing-like anterior fl anges are exposed to the environment. We sampled M. alata f. hualvensis from site nos. 8 and 16, with pH 6.8 and 7.1 and conductivity 236 and 178 μS · cm -1, respectively. 4 Mallomonas alphaphora (Fig. 4) is reported for the third time since its original description in Western Australia (Preisig 1989). This species was later sampled from a single locality in southeastern Australia (Furlotte et al. 2000). Now, distribution of M. alphaphora is extended to Europe, and it has lost its status as an Australian endemic species. Mallomonas alphaphora was revealed at twelve collecting sites (mostly from large lakes) and was a frequent element in the Aquitaine region. Mallomonas koreana (Figs 56–66), was described from a small reservoir in South Korea (Kim & Kim 2008) on the basis of samples observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Here we report a rich population of M. koreana at a single collection site: the natural, shallow polymictic Lake Soustons (surface area of 3.8 km2; site no. 27). Mallomonas koreana lost its status of an Asian endemics relatively soon. Temperature, pH and conductivity of our sample (9.5°C; pH 7.3; 178 μS · cm -1) correspond well to the physico-chemical parameters of both Korean localities (14.5°C; pH 7.9; 186 Sμ · cm-1 and 15.6°C; pH 8.3; 151 μS · cm -1). Here, we provide microphotographs of scales and bristles obtained using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The scale case consists of: i) apical asymmetric scales (Figs 56, 66); ii) domed body (slightly asymmetric) scales (Fig. 57); iii) domeless body scales (Fig. 58); and iv) domeless rear scales (Fig. 59). Kim & Kim (2008) described two types of bristles: short apical with 2–4 teeth along a convex margin (see our Figs 60–61), and longer (by about twice) subapical ones. Except for the long bristle with a smooth shaft (Fig. 65), we observed the long (23 m) serrated bristles (Fig. 64) with up to seven diminutive teeth. The tips of the bristles may vary considerably (Figs 60–63), and neither of the observed bristles had either a blunt tip, or a bifurcated blunt tip, as mentioned by Kim & Kim (2008; see their fi gures 8 and 11). Mallomonas phasma (Figs 67–74) was described by Harris & Bradley (1960) from shallow peatbog pools near Mortimer Common (South-east England), often associated with Sphagnum sp. Mallomonas phasma was also mentioned by Nicholls (1982). However, the published scale description was not consistent with that initially described by Harris & Bradley (1960). The posterior fl ange of the scale as described by Nicholls (1982) is smooth, while the posterior fl ange of M. phasma is marked with struts. We are therefore confi dent that M. phasma here is reported for the second time since its description in 1960. We sampled this species at four sites in the central Aquitaine region (site nos. 7, 8, 14, 20). As well as in acidic mires (pH 4.5–5.0), M. phasma occurred in slightly acidic to neutral environments (pH 6.3–6.8), comprising a wide range of conductivity (94–236 μS · cm -1) and waterbody types (from small pools to large lakes). Two types of scales were described by Harris & Bradley (1960): i) collar scales; and ii) body scales. The dorsal edge of the collar scale is strongly curved, and the anterior fl ange is extended forming a fl attened wing. The anterior submarginal rib at the dorsal side terminates in a point forming a short spine, at the edge of the dome (Fig. 69), which may play a role in positioning collar scales within the scale-case. The dome is broad, with a slightly different pattern of ribs and papillae (Figs 69–71). The body scale morphology is well recognizable in Fig. 74 (obtained by scanning electron microscopy). The anterior submarginal rib is exerted and narrower compared to the posterior rib; moreover, struts terminating from the anterior submarginal rib to either the anterior fl ange or the shield are more prominent and more densely spaced. 5 g 0 0 0 0 0 0 n 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 pli 20 20 20 20 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 20 01 20 Samdate 23.5. 23.5. 23.5. 25.5. 6.2.2 6.2.2 4.2.2 4.2.2 4.2.2 4.2.2 4.2.2 4.2.2 24.5. 5.2.2 25.5. mp.C) 25.5 27.9 19.4 21.9 10.5 9.1 nm nm nm nm nm nm 26.7 9.1 22.9 Te° ( y ctivit–1)m 64 23 93 07 23 41 21 36 98 50 m 39 94 28 25 d. Condu(µS · c 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 n 2 7 1 1 e easur pH 6.6 7.4 6.8 7.4 7.2 7.6 7.5 6.8 4.5 7.6 nm 7.4 8.2 4.8 5.0 m bles. nm = not Longitude 1°5'36.20"W 1°5'58.32"W 1°5'52.90"W 1°10'44.40"W 1°12'2.24"W 1°7'37.07"W 1°11'29.30"W 1°11'17.95"W 1°10'57.90"W 1°11'3.80"W 1°11'26.40"W 1°11'18.90"W 1°17'53.90"W 0°36'47.27"W 0°36'47.27"W a ari v N N N N N N N N N N N ntal 40" 33" 70“ 0"N 57" 9"N 30" 34" 80" 10" 80" 60" 50" 4"N 4"N me de 48. 32. 17. 9.0 21. 9.4 38. 27. 49. 55. 32. 13. 35. 3.8 3.8 nviron Latitu 44°57' 44°57' 44°58‘ 44°31' 44°30' 44°28' 44°26' 44°26' 44°24' 44°23' 44°23' 44°23' 44°11' 44°31' 44°31' e Table 1. List of localities including geographical location and Loc. No.Description Lacanau region 1a small pool close to Étang de Lacanau covered by Nymphaea sp. 2a pool in a close vicinity to Étang de Lacanau overgrown by vegetation 3Étang de Lacanau Cazaux – Biscarrosse region 4Étang de Cazaux, a northern part 5Le Gourcq pool 6a small unnamed pool near eastern bank of Étang de Cazaux 7Étang de Cazaux, a south – western part 8an enclosed bay of Étang de Cazaux closed to site No.7 9acidic mires close to Petit Étang de Biscarrosse 10Petit Étang de Biscarrosse 11an unnamed small pool close to Biscarrosse, vered by Salvinia sp.co 12Grand Étang de Biscarrosse 13Petit Étang de la Maillouéyre Bousquet region 14aLe Gât Mort, a small pool 14bLe Gât Mort, a small pool 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 25.5. 5.2.2 5.2.2 5.2.2 25.5. 25.5. 25.5. 24.5. 24.5. 24.5. 24.5. 24.5. 6.2.2 6.2.2 6.2.2 23.9 nm nm nm 25.8 25.5 25.7 17.5 24.7 30.0 20.2 26.3 9.5 10.4 10.4 126 178 79 78 224 224 94 123 130 127 143 191 178 324 180 6 1 7 2 9 2 3 2 9 0 1 1 3 3 3 5. 7. 4. 6. 6. 7. 6. 7. 8. 5. 5. 6. 7. 6. 7. W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 6 1 1 2 8 1 9 5 0 8 9 9 9 1 6 1 5 7. 1. 4. 2. 1. 9. 6. 1. 6. 0. 1. 1. 5. 6. 5. 2 5 3 2 2 1 1 1 2 4 1 1 1 4 4 6' 7' 8' 8' 8' 8' 6' 8' 8' 6' 9' 9' 0' 1' 1' 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 N N N N N N N N N N N N N " N " " " " " " " " " " " N " 0 " 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 " 3 9 0 6 6 9 6 5 2 4 2 2 6 1 2 1 56. 1.9 59. 55. 54. 54. 26. 39. 40. 21. 12. 14. 30. 1.2 58. 0' 0' 9' 9' 9' 9' 8' 3' 3' 2' 1' 1' 5' 3' 2' 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Marais du Cla, a small pool an unnamed pool close to Lac du Bousquet a reed encircled small oligotrophic pool a bog near Lac du Bourg a wetland near Lac du Bourg close to site No.18 a wetland near Lac du Bourg close to sites No.18 and 19 a small unnamed forest peaty–pool close to road D3 to Hostens gionSoustons re a small lake between Étang du Houa and Étang de Léon Étang de Léon a small unnamed bog–pool next to the road D 142 to Léon a bog close to le Paludot pool near Léon le Paludot pool Étang de Soustons Étang de Hardy Étang Blanc – n o 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 é 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 L 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 7 Table 2. Species list and distribution of Synurales found here. * = scales recorded only from a surface sediment layer. The species representing a new record for France is typed in bold. Taxon/Sampling station 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Chrysodidymus synuroideus Prowse x x x* Figs 54–55 Mallomona acaroides Perty em. x x x x Iwanoff M. actinoloma var. maramuresensis x x L.S.Péterfi & Momeu, Fig. 2 M. adamas K.Harris & D.E.Bradey x x* Fig. 3 M. akrokomos Ruttner in Pascher x x x Fig. 5 M. alata Asmund, Cronberg & Dürr- x x x* schmidt, Fig. 6 M. alata f. hualvensis Asmund, x Cronberg & Dürrschmidt, Figs 7–8 M. alphaphora Preisig, Fig. 4 x x x x x x* M. alpina Pascher & Ruttner in Pascher emend. Asmund & Kristiansen M. annulata (D.E.Bradley) K.Harris x Figs 9–10 M. calceolus D.E.Bradley x x x x x x* M. caudata Iwanoff em. Krieger x x x* M. clavus D.E.Bradley, Fig. 11 x M. costata Dürrschmidt, Fig. 12 x x M. crassisquama (Asmund) Fott x x x x x* Figs 13–14 M. doignonii Bourrelly emend. Asmund & Cronberg, Fig. 15 M. eoa E. Takahashi in Asmund & E.Takahashi, Fig. 16 M. favosa K.H.Nicholls, Figs 18–19 x x x x x x M. fl ora K.Harris & D.E.Bradley x* Fig. 17 M. guttata Wujek, Fig. 20 x x x x x* M. hamata Asmund, Fig. 21 x M. heterospina J.W.G. Lund, Fig. 22 x x M. insignis Penard, Fig. 23 x x 8 13 14a 14b 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 x x x x x x x* x x x x x x x x x x x x x* x x x x x x* x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x* x* x x x x* x x x x x x x* x x x x x x* x x x x x x x x x x x x x x* x x* x x x x x x x* x x x x 9 Table 2 continued. Taxon/Sampling station 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 M. koreana H.S.Kim & J.H.Kim Figs 56–66 M. leboimei Bourrelly, Fig. 24 x x* M. lelymene K.Harris & D.E.Bradley Fig. 25 M. maculata D.E.Bradley, Fig. 26 x x* M. mangofera K.Harris & D.E.Bradley M. mangofera var. foveata x (Dürrschmidt) Kristiansen, Figs 27–28 M. mangofera var. reticulata (Cronberg) Kristiansen, Figs 29–30 M. matvienkoae (Matvienko) x x Asmund et Kristiansen, Fig. 31 M. multisetigera Dürrschmidt, Fig. 32 x x x M. multiunca Asmund, Fig. 33 x M. ouradion K.Harris & D.E.Bradley M . papillosa K.Harris & D.E.Bradley x x x* x x x* emend. Harris M. parvula Dürrschmidt, Fig. 34 x x x M. phasma K.Harris & D.E.Bradley x x Figs 67–74 M. pillula f. exannulata K.Harris, Fig. 35 M. pillula f. valdiviana Dürrschmidt x x x* x x* Fig. 36 M. portae–ferreae L.S.Péterfi & Asmund, Fig. 37 M. pugio D.E.Bradley, Figs 39–40 M. pumilio K.Harris & D.E.Bradley x emend. Asmund, Cronberg & Dürrschmidt M. pumilio var. munda Asmund, x x x x Cronberg & Dürrschmidt M. punctifera Korshikov, Fig. 38 M. rasilis Dürrschmidt, Fig. 41 x M. retifera Dürrschmidt, Fig. 42 M. scalaris Dürrschmidt, Figs 43–44 x x 10