ABSTRACT

The majority of species belonging to genus Nitzschia are distinguished with fine taxonomic features that are difficult to observe and document. Currently,  biogeographic distributions for many species are recognized as cosmopolitan; in contrast endemic species are poorly documented and studied.   Our study describes two new Nitzschia species from shallow wetlands across Bangalore urban districts of peninsular India viz., Nitzschia taylorii Alakananda, Karthick & Hamilton, sp. nov. and Nitzschia pseudoacicularis Alakananda, Karthick & Hamilton, sp. nov. Morphological analyses of these new species performed with light and scanning electron microscopy along with brief ecology of inhabiting wetlands are discussed. New species records from urban polluted wetlands provide evidence for broadening taxonomic and ecological investigations of cosmopolitan genera like Nitzschia in the Southern Hemisphere.

Keywords: Nitzschia, Diatoms, Bangalore, India, Shallow wetlands