Fontina Gen. nov. (Bacillariophyta): a new diatom genus from a thermo-mineral spring of the French Massif Central (France)

Aude Beauger (1) , Carlos Wetzel (2) , Olivier Voldoire (1) , Elisabeth Allain (1) , Vincent Breton (3) , Didier Miallier (3) , Luc Ector (2)

1 GEOLAB - Laboratoire de Géographie Physique et Environnementale
2 LIST - Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
3 LPC - Laboratoire de Physique de Clermont

Light and scanning electron microscope observations on the genus Fontina gen. nov. from a thermo-mineral spring of the Massif Central (France) are presented. Based on morphology, the new genus shows features that have not been described previously, such as the stria pattern, interrupted at the valve face/mantle junction and composed of one long, slit-like areola on both valve face and mantle. Externally, areolae are closed by hymenes. Fontina arverna sp. nov. is described as the typus generis of Fontina. This new genus was compared with some similar freshwater genera such as Adlafia, Chamaepinnularia, Genkalia, Germainiella, Microfissurata and Nupela. So far, we are unable to establish an evolutionary link or cladistic association with currently known genera. The new genus is described from a sampling site characterized by high conductivity and high carbonate concentration, brackish conditions and whose water originates deep in the crust (high lithium concentration).

Mots clés: Fontina arverna; mineral springs; new genus; raphid diatom; taxonomy

Domaines: Microbiologie et Parasitologie; Systématique, phylogénie et taxonomie

Aude Beauger, Carlos Wetzel, Olivier Voldoire, Elisabeth Allain, Vincent Breton, et al.. Fontina Gen. nov. (Bacillariophyta): a new diatom genus from a thermo-mineral spring of the French Massif Central (France). Diatom Research, 2022, 37 (1), pp.51-61. ⟨10.1080/0269249X.2022.2033327⟩. ⟨hal-03667307⟩