Preliminary Studies On Flora Of Diatoms From Xinjiang In China

Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region is the largest province of China, it locates in the Northwestern of China, and it has especial geographical position and peculiar climate characteristic. Algae resources are very abundance in this region, but the research of algae flora taxonomy is relative weakness. Diatoms are eukaryotic algae found in almost every aquatic habitat. They play a very important role in the aquatic ecosystem and biology environment inspect.From July to August in 2001, Professor Wang Quanxi and his student went to 3 areas, 4 autonomous states and 1 city in Xinjiang region to collect samples. One hundred and forty-four algae specimens have been collected from 17 places in these areas. We have made use of light microscope to observe and identify the Diatoms in these specimens, 429 taxa have been identified, including 296 species, 127 varieties, 6 forms, which belong to 43 genera, 11 families, 7 orders, 2 classes, In these taxa, 70 species, 19 varieties and 1 form are new records in China, 114 species, 65 varieties and 4 forms are reported for the first time in Xinjiang.In Centricae, 1 order (Coscinodiscales) has been identified, there are 13 taxa in total, including 3 genera 11 species, 1 variety, 1 form. In these taxa, 1 species is new record in China, 1 species and 1 varieties are reported for the first time in Xinjiang.In Pennatae, 6 orders (Araphidiales, Raphidionales, Biraphidinales, Amphiraphidales, Monoraphidales, Aulonoraphidinales) have been identified, there are 416 taxa in total, including 40 genera 285 species, 126 varieties, 5 forms. In these taxa, 69 species, 19 varieties, 1 form are new records in China, 113 species, 64 varieties and 4 forms are reported for the first time in Xinjiang.In this paper, the characteristic of flora, species distribution and the relationship of geographical region and habitat of Diatoms in Xinjiang have been analyzed and discussed: a) about species composition, most species are general fresh water species, some species are little and brackish saltwater species, and a few species belong to coldwater; b) about ecologic distribution, the characteristic influenced by regional climate and situation is not obvious, but the influence from located water body is relatively evident, the number and quantity of those species is richer in marsh, gully and temporary water body, but less in river, lake, brook, and other water body.This dissertation will make a preliminary study on diatoms flora taxa of the Xinjiang region, and provide important data for our country's the algae resource investigation.