High-resolution LM images of diatoms from remote regions of western Canada are presented as a contribution to our knowledge of diatom biodiversity and biogeography in North America. Diatoms were collected from diverse habitats in four of North America's major biomes: Arctic tundra, taiga, Rocky Mountains and Pacific rainforest.
This book presents a wide-ranging introduction to the diatoms together with an illustrated description of over 250 genera. Diatoms are important as perhaps the commonest group of autotrophic plants on earth and are abundant in all waters and on soils and moist surfaces. The introduction describes the diatom cell in detail, the structure of the wall (often extremely beautiful in design), the cell contents and aspects of life cycle and cell division. The generic atlas section is the first account of diatom systematics since 1928 (Karsten in Engler and Prantl: Die Nauturlichen Pflanzenfamilien) and each generic description is accompanied by scanning electron micrographs to show the characteristic structure. Most of the latter have been prepared specially for this work from the authors' own collections. The Diatoms will be the standard reference work on the group for years to come and is an essential reference volume.
This annotated and illustrated checklist updates and expands the one published over ten years ago (Bahls 2009). The atlas section presents images of voucher specimens and the catalog of taxa includes information on habitats, ecology and distribution of each taxon. This work is intended as a guide to the Montana Diatom Collection (MDC) with hope that it will encourage use of the collection to advance our knowledge of diatoms in North America. Each of the images in the atlas is linked to a specific locality, sample and slide in the MDC. The MDC is the source of materials that were used to describe a new genus (Kurtkrammeria), about 100 new species and combinations, and over 300 taxa in the Diatoms of North America online flora (diatoms.org). It is also the source of materials for about 50 research papers and a larger number of water quality assessment reports prepared for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and other agencies. I dedicate this work to future generations of people who are passionate about diatoms and the diversity of life.In addition to the annotated catalog and atlas of images, this volume also includes a list of research papers that are based on samples in the MDC, tables showing the location of type materials in the MDC, and a table of abundance-weighted mean values for conductivity, pH, temperature, total nitrogen and total phosphorus of 337 common species that are addressed in this volume.Volume 1 includes 840 taxa in 81 genera among the centrics (Coscinodiscophyceae), araphids (Fragilariophyceae) and monoraphids (e.g., Achnanthidium, Cocconeis), Eunotiales (e.g., Eunotia, Peronia) and selected genera of Cymbellales and Naviculales (e.g., Amphora, Cymbella, Navicula, Stauroneis). Volume 2 will include the remaining genera of biraphid pennate diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) including those in the Bacillariales, Rhopalodiales, and Surirellales.
