Silica-scaled chrysophytes of Ireland with an appendix:: Geographic variation of scale shape of Mallomonas caudata

Silica-scaled chrysophytes were studied by means of electron microscopy for the second time from Ireland. Samples were collected from 17 different localities in western and eastern Ireland during summer. Twenty-four taxa of the genera Chrysosphaerella (2), Paraphysomonas (3), Spiniferomonas (2) Mallomonas (12) and Synura (5) were identified, 13 of which are new records for Ireland. The species composition is typical for northern temperate areas. Comments about their ecological preferences and geographical distributions are given. Mallomonas caudata was the most numerous and common taxon. Therefore, as a second part of this study, the idea of using Elliptic Fourier analysis for evaluation of shape of scales was realised. As a result of this analysis, the populations of M. caudata from two areas (Connemara in western part and Killarney in southwestern part of Ireland) were significantly distinguished on the base of shape of their scales.