CHRYSOPHYTE STOMATOCYST FLORA FROM A FOREST PEAT CORE IN THE LENA RIVER REGION, NORTHEASTERN SIBERIA

Chrysophyte stomatocyst assemblages were described, using Internationa l Statospore Working Group (ISWG) guidelines, from a peat core from th e Lena River Region of northwestern Siberia (69 degrees 23.33 N, 125 d egrees 08.37 E). Cysts were well preserved, abundant, and diverse thro ughout the 7180 +/- 110 years of peat accumulation. A total of 161 mor photypes were recorded, of which 52 are described as new. As this is o nly the second study of chrysophyte cysts from arctic peats, this high number of new morphotypes is not overly surprising. Marked changes in cyst assemblages occurred throughout the development of this bog, ind icating that chrysophyte cysts preserved in peats may potentially prov ide important paleoenvironmental proxy data.