Morphology, ecology and distribution of the diatom (Bacillariophyceae) species Simonsenia delognei (Grunow) Lange-Bertalot

Simonsenia delognei is a diatom species which is relatively rarely recorded, but apparently widespread in Europe and other continents. This taxon has recently been discovered for the first time in springs of Central Poland, where it was found to occur abundantly. Somewhat later this species has also been identified and photographed in samples from the Eagean Region in Turkey. Light and electron microscopic studies were carried out on S. delognei populations from the Quaternary spring located near Lodz (Central Poland) and from the Porsuk and Felent Rivers and a spring in the Turkmen Mountains in Kutalya and Havuzdere stream in Yalova (NW Turkey). Morphological studies were accompanied by environmental measurements and determination of changes in the seasonal distribution of S. delognei in a key area, i.e. the Porzeczkowe spring in Central Poland, which are included in the present study. Identification of S. delognei under a light microscope is difficult and hence an electron microscope is required for accurate taxonomic identification.