A contribution to the taxonomy of Chaetoceros muelleri Lemmermann (Bacillariophyceae) and related taxa

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Abstract
Chaetoceros muelleri Lemmermann has been reported from brackish waters in Europe and North America under more than 10 different specific names. Recently we have studied specimens of C. muelleri and C. hohnii from the western USA, as well as C. wighamoides from South Africa. We have concluded that two different forms of C. muelleri exist in North America. The nominate form is characterized by the frequent presence of a small process on the valve face. We propose the combination Chaetoceros muelleri var. subsalsum comb. nov. [C. subsalsum Lemmermann, 1904] for populations consistently lacking processes C. hohnii and C. wighamoides should be considered synonyms of C. muelleri var. subsalsum. Chaetoceros muelleri is a variable taxon, both in vegetative cells and resting spores.