FRESH-WATER DIATOMS FROM SOME ISLANDS IN THE MARITIME ANTARCTIC REGION

A total of 69 diatom taxa, belonging to 24 genera were recorded from t hirteen freshwater and moss samples collected in the Antarctic Peninsu la region. Marine taxa comprised 26%. Cluster analysis revealed three assemblages. The Nitzschia acidoclinata assemblage occurs on wet mosse s; the Luticola muticopsis assemblage is found near penguin rookeries whereas the Pinnularia krookii-Pinnularia microstauron var. elongata a ssemblage occurs on drier places such as dry mosses and drying mud.