Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 747 No. 2: 17 Mar. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-03-17
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.747.2.4
Page range: 190-198
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

A new Reimeria (Bacillariophyceae) species from lakes Ohrid and Prespa, Macedonia

Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Arhimedova 3, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
ancient lakes diatoms morphology taxonomy ultrastructure Algae

Abstract

Ancient lakes are important biodiversity hotspots, including diatom diversity and endemism. Lakes Ohrid and Prespa are no exception and are characterized by a high number of diatom genera and species. Many new species of diatoms have been described from both lakes, occurring in one or both lakes. During observations of the epilithic communities of both lakes, a Reimeria species with morphological characteristics different from those of known species was recorded. This study describes it as a new species Reimeria elliptica based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations. The new species is characterized by small valve size (7.5–20.5 μm long and 3.8–5.0 μm wide), slightly asymmetrical valves with linear-elliptic to elliptic outline and 12–16 striae in 10 μm. A comparison with known Reimeria species based on morphological and ultrastructural characteristics is provided. Reimeria elliptica so far observed only in lakes Prespa and Ohrid.

References

  1. Agardh, C.A. (1830) Conspectus Criticus Diatomacearum. Lundae: Litteris Berlingianis, pp. 1–16.
  2. Amataj, S., Anovski, T., Benischke, R., Eftimi, R., Gourcy, L.L., Kola, L., Leontiadis, I., Micevski, E., Stamos, A. & Zoto, J. (2006) Tracer methods used to verify the hypothesis of Cvijić about the underground connection between Prespa and Ohrid Lake. Environmental Geology 51: 749–753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0388-9
  3. Bory de Saint-Vincent, J.B.G.M. (1822) Bacillarées. Dictionnaire Classique d’Histoire naturelle 2: 127–129.
  4. Cvetkoska, A., Hamilton, P.B., Ognjanova–Rumenova, N. & Levkov, Z. (2014a) Observations of the genus Cyclotella (Kützing) Brébisson in ancient lakes Ohrid and Prespa and a description of two new species C. paraocellata sp. nov. and C. prespanensis sp. nov. Nova Hedwigia 98 (3–4): 313–340. https://doi.org/10.1127/0029-5035/2014/0154
  5. Cvetkoska, A., Levkov, Z., Reed, J.M. & Wagner, B. (2014b) Late Glacial to Holocene climate change and human impact in the Mediterranean: The last ca. 17 ka diatom record of Lake Prespa (Macedonia/Albania/Greece). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 406: 22–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.04.010
  6. Cvetkoska, A., Levkov, Z., Reed, J.M., Wagner, B., Panagiotopoulos, K., Leng, M.J. & Lacey, J.H. (2015) Quaternary climate change and Heinrich Events in the southern Balkans: Lake Prespa diatom palaeolimnology from the last interglacial to present. Journal of Paleolimnology 53: 215–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-014-9821-3
  7. Gell, P.A., Sonneman, J.A., Reid, M.A., Illman, M.A. & Sincock, A.J. (1999) An illustrated key to common diatom genera from southern Australia. Thurgoona, Australia: Cooperative Research Center for Freshwater Ecology, 63 pp.
  8. Ghavam, A. & Atazadeh, E. (2024) Study of genus Reimeria (Bacillariophyta) in the Kordan and Hazarband Rivers in the Central Alborz Northern Iran. Taxonomy and Biosystematics 16: 35–44. https://doi.org/10.22108/tbj.2024.141551.1265
  9. Glushchenko, A.M., Kociolek, J.P., Kuznetsova, I.V. & Kulikovskiy, M.S. (2020) The Genus Reimeria Kociolek and Stoermer (Bacillariophyceae) in Water Ecosystems of Vietnam (Southeast Asia). Inland Water Biology 13: 147–154. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995082920020054
  10. Gregory, W. (1856) Notice of some new species of British Fresh-water Diatomaceae. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, new series, London 4: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.s1-4.13.1
  11. Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2025) AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. [https://www.algaebase.org]
  12. Fránková, M., Poulíčková, A., Neustupa, J., Pichrtová, M. & Marvan, P. (2009) Geometric morphometrics-a sensitive method to distinguish diatom morphospecies: a case study on the sympatric populations of Reimeria sinuata and Gomphonema tergestinum (Bacillariophyceae) from the River Becva Czech Republic. Nova Hedwigia 88 (1–2): 81–95. https://doi.org/10.1127/0029-5035/2009/0088-0081
  13. Haeckel, E. (1878) Das Protistenreich. Eine populäre uebersicht über das Formengebiet der niedersten Lebewesen. Mit einem wissenschaftlichen Anhange: System der Protisten. Leipzig, E. Günther, pp. 1–104, 58 figs. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.58542
  14. Hustedt, F. (1945) Diatomeen aus Seen und Quellgebieten der Balkan-Halbinsel. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 40 (4): 867–973.
  15. Jovanovska, E., Nakov, T. & Levkov, Z. (2013) Observations of the genus Diploneis from Lake Ohrid, Macedonia. Diatom Research 28 (3): 237–262. https://doi.org/10.1080/0269249X.2013.797219
  16. Jurilj, A. (1948) New Diatoms-Surirellaceae- of Ochrida Lake in Yugoslavia and their phylogenetic significance. Prirodoslovnih istrazivanja 24: 171–259.
  17. Jurilj, A. (1954) Flora and vegetation of diatoms from Ochrida Lake in Yugoslavia. Prirodoslovnih istrazivanja 26: 99–190.
  18. Kociolek, J.P. & Stoermer, E.F. (1987) Ultrastructure of Cymbella sinuata and its allies (Bacillariophyceae), and their transfer to Reimeria, gen. nov. Systematic Botany 12 (4): 451–459. https://doi.org/10.2307/2418882
  19. Kociolek, J.P., Kulikovskiy, M.S., Kuznetsova, I.V., Glushchenko, A.M. & Solak, C.N. (2018) A putative species flock in the diatom genus Gomphonema Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyta: Gomphonemataceae) from Lake Baikal, Russia: description of six new species similar to G. ventricosum W. Gregory. Cryptogamie, Algologie 39 (3): 365–388. https://doi.org/10.7872/crya/v39.iss3.2018.365
  20. Krammer, K. (1997) Die cymbelloiden Diatomeen. Eine Monographie der weltweit bekannten Taxa. Teil 1. Allgemeines und Encyonema Part. Bibliotheca Diatomologica 36: 1–382.
  21. Krstić, S. (2012) Environmental changes in lakes catchments as a trigger for rapid eutrophication-A Prespa Lake case study. In: Piacentini, T. & Miccadei, E. (Eds.) Studies on Environmental and Applied Geomorphology. IntechOpen, Rijeka, Croatia. https://doi.org/10.5772/27246
  22. Kulikovskiy, M.S., Lange-Bertalot, H., Metzeltin, D. & Witkowski, A. (2012) Lake Baikal: Hotspot of endemic diatoms I. Iconographia Diatomologica 23: 1–607.
  23. Kulikovskiy, M.S., Lange-Bertalot, H. & Kuznetsova, I.V. (2015) Lake Baikal: hotspot of endemic diatoms II. Iconographia Diatomologica 26: 1–656.
  24. Kützing, F.T. (1844) Die Kieselschaligen Bacillarien oder Diatomeen. Nordhausen: zu finden bei W. Köhne, 1–152 pp., pls 1–30. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.64360
  25. Lange-Bertalot, H. (1993) 85 neue Taxa und über 100 weitere neu definierte Taxa ergänzend zur Süsswasserflora von Mitteleuropa, Vol. 2/1–4. 85 New Taxa and much more than 100 taxonomic clarifications supplementary to SüBwasserflora von Mitteleuropa Vol. 2/ 1–4. Bibliotheca Diatomologica 27: 1–454.
  26. Lange-Bertalot, H. & Metzeltin, D. (1996) Indicators of oligotrophy—800 taxa representative of three ecologically distinct lake types, Carbonate buffered—Oligodystrophic—Weakly buffered soft water. Iconographia Diatomologica 2: 1–390.
  27. Lange-Bertalot, H., Metzeltin, D. & Witkowski, A. (1996) Hippodonta gen. nov. Umschreibung und Begründung einer neuer Gattung der Naviculaceae. Iconographia Diatomologica 4: 247–275.
  28. Levkov, Z. & Ector, L. (2010) A comparative study of Reimeria species (Bacillariophyceae). Nova Hedwigia 90 (3–4): 469–489. https://doi.org/10.1127/0029-5035/2010/0090-0469
  29. Levkov, Z. & Williams, D.M. (2012) Checklist of diatoms (Bacillariophyta) from Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa (Macedonia), and their watersheds. Phytotaxa 45: 1–76. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.45.1.1
  30. Levkov, Z. & Williams, D.M. (2014) Observations on Caloneis Cleve (Bacillariophyceae) species from the ancient lakes Ohrid and Prespa. Nova Hedwigia Beiheft 143: 141–158. https://doi.org/10.1127/1438-9134/2014/008
  31. Levkov, Z., Krstic, S., Metzeltin, D. & Nakov, T. (2007a) Diatoms of Lakes Prespa and Ohrid, about 500 taxa from ancient lake system. Iconographia Diatomologica 16: 1–611.
  32. Levkov, Z., Saul, B., Krstic, S., Nakov, T. & Ector, L. (2007b) Ecology of benthic diatoms from Lake Prespa, Macedonia. Archiv für Hydrobiologie Supplement/ Algological Studies 124: 71–83. https://doi.org/10.1127/1864-1318/2007/0124-0071
  33. Levkov, Z., Mitic-Kopanja, D. & Reichardt, E. (2016) The diatom genus Gomphonema in the Republic of Macedonia. Diatoms of Europe 8: 1–552.
  34. Lindhorst, K., Krastel, S., Reicherter, K., Stipp, M., Wagner, B. & Schwenk, T. (2015) Sedimentary and tectonic evolution of Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania). Basin Research 27: 84–101. https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12063
  35. Luo, F., You, Q.-M., Yu, P. & Wang, Q.-X. (2024) Diatoms in Hengduan Mountains, China. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press, pp. 1–592.
  36. Matzinger, A., Spirkovski, Z., Patceva, S. & Wüest, A. (2006) Sensitivity of ancient Lake Ohrid to local anthropogenic impacts and global warming. Journal of Great Lakes Research 32: 158–179. https://doi.org/10.3394/0380-1330(2006)32[158:SOALOT]2.0.CO;2
  37. Mereschkowsky, K.S. (1903) Über Placoneis, ein neues Diatomeen-Genus. Beihefte zum Botanischen Centralblatt 15 (1): 1–30.
  38. Morales, E.A., Fernandez, E. & Kociolek, P.J. (2009) Epilithic diatoms (Bacillariophyta) from cloud forest and alpine streams in Bolivia, South America 3: Diatoms from Sehuencas, Carrasco National Park, Department of Cochabamba. Acta Botanica Croatica 68 (2): 263–283.
  39. Pavlov, A., Levkov, Z., Williams, D.M. & Edlund, M.B. (2013) Observations on Hippodonta (Bacillariophyceae) in selected ancient lakes. Phytotaxa 90: 1–53. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.90.1.1
  40. Rabenhorst, L. (1853) Die Süsswasser-Diatomaceen (Bacillarien) für Freunde der Mikroskopie. Leipzig: Eduard Kummer, 72 pp., 9 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.8348
  41. Round, F.E., Crawford, R.M. & Mann, D.G. (1990) The diatoms. Biology and morphology of the genera. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 747 pp.
  42. Sala, S.E., Guerrero, J.M. & Ferrario, M.E. (1993) Redefinition of Reimeria sinuata (Gregory) Kociolek & Stoermer and recognition of Reimeria uniseriata nov. spec. Diatom Research 8 (2): 439–446. https://doi.org/10.1080/0269249X.1993.9705273
  43. Schmidt, A. (1922) Atlas der Diatomaceen-kunde. Leipzig: O.R. Reisland, Series VIII (Heft 87), pls 345–348.
  44. Stankovic, S. (1960) The Balkan Lake Ohrid and Its Living World. The Hague: Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Monographiae Biologicae, IX, 357 pp.
  45. Stelbrink, B., Jovanovska, E., Levkov, Z., Ognjanova‐Rumenova, N., Wilke, T. & Albrecht, C. (2018) Diatoms do radiate: evidence for a freshwater species flock. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 31 (12): 969–1975. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13368
  46. Trajkovski, D. & Apostolova, N. (2024) The catastrophic water loss of Ancient Lake Prespa: a chronicle of a death foretold. Hydrology 11 (12): 199. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11120199
  47. Wagner, B., Tauber, P., Francke, A., Leicher, N., Binnie, S.A., Cvetkoska, A., Jovanovska, E., Just, J., Lacey, J.H., Levkov, Z., Lindhorst, K., Kouli, K., Krastel, S., Panagiotopoulos, K., Ulfers, A., Zaova, D., Donders, T.H., Grazhdani, A., Koutsodendris, A., Leng, M.J., Sadori, L., Scheinert, M., Vogel, H., Wonik, T., Zanchetta, G. & Wilke, T. (2023) The geodynamic and limnological evolution of Balkan Lake Ohrid, possibly the oldest extant lake in Europe. Boreas 52: 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.12601
  48. Zaova, D., Jovanovska, E., Cvetkoska, A., Ognjanova-Rumenova, N. & Levkov, Z. (2025) Fossil diatom diversity in Lake Ohrid over the last 1.36 Ma. Iconographia Diatomologica 27: 1–749.
  49. Żelazna-Wieczorek, J. & Knysak, P. (2017) Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) of spring at the Goprowska Pass (Bieszczady National Park) in assessment of the tourist traffic impact. Roczniki Bieszczadzkie 25: 321–338.

How to Cite

Levkov, Z. (2026) A new Reimeria (Bacillariophyceae) species from lakes Ohrid and Prespa, Macedonia. Phytotaxa 747 (2): 190–198. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.747.2.4