Authors

Adil Y. Al-Handal, Michael J. Sullivan, Thomas A. Frankovich, Angela K. Wulff

This study describes two new species of marine epiphytic diatoms, Pseudogomphonema minutum sp. nov. and Pseudogomphonema gracile sp. nov., discovered growing on the red alga Georgiella confluens in Potter Cove, King George Island, Antarctica. Using light and scanning electron microscopy, the authors detail the distinctive morphological traits that separate these taxa from previously known Pseudogomphonema species—such as valve shape, raphe structure, and cingular band patterns.

The findings expand knowledge of Antarctic marine diatom diversity and underscore how much remains to be discovered in polar ecosystems. The work also refines understanding of the genus Pseudogomphonema, long recognized for its morphological complexity and cold-water affinity. By documenting these species from the Southern Ocean, the authors highlight the continuing potential for taxonomic discovery and biogeographic insight in Antarctic benthic microflora.