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A NEW SPECIES OF MARINE PENNATE 

 DIATOM FROM HONOLULU HARBOR 



By PAUL S. CONGER 



Associate Curator, Division of Cryptogams 



Department of Botany 



Smithsonian Institution 



(With One Plate) 



A RATHER DISTINCTIVE and interesting marine benthic epiph3Atic 

 diatom from the bottom of Honolulu Harbor, Hawaii, was collected 

 by Dr. R. E. Johannes of the Department of Zoology, University of 

 Hawaii, and isolated and cultured by him for use in investigations 

 on phosphorus metabolism, and as a source of food for amphipods 

 which were being used experimentally. He submitted it to me for 

 identification, and I am indebted to him for bringing it to my atten- 

 tion. I am also indebted to Dr. David L. Correll, of the Division of 

 Radiation and Organisms of the Smithsonian Institution, for carrying 

 the diatom in culture for a few weeks. I required access to adequate 

 fresh supplies for this study, because the diatom proved too delicate 

 to allow satisfactory permanent preparations to be made. 



The diatom cultures well, multiplies rapidly, and is very hardy in 

 artificial seawater culture medium. For these reasons it should be a 

 very good species for investigational purposes and a good experi- 

 mental form for wider use. Whether it will continue to thrive and 

 can be maintained indefinitely away from supplies of fresh seawater 

 remains to be seen. For all their hardiness under good conditions, 

 these forms are very sensitive and demanding. 



It would also be desirable to make electron micrographic studies 

 of it to determine its more intricate and finer structure, but I have 

 not been in a position to do this. Because of the very great delicacy 

 of the shell, the structure is not readily seen with the optical micro- 

 scope. For this reason the electron micrographic studies would be 

 helpful in its identification. 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS, VOL. 146, NO. 7 



