Chrysophytes are a diverse and often abundant group of primarily
freshwater algae that are characterized by the endogenous formation of
siliceous cysts or stomatocysts (also called statospores or statocysts).
Cyst morphology is highly variable, but believed to be species-specific.
Cysts have continued to receive attention from phycologists and
especially paleoecologists, who use these indicators for assessments of
environmental change.
In this volume, we have compiled descriptions, using both scanning
electron and light microscopy, as well as line drawings, for 176 new
cyst descriptions. In combination with the 155 morphotypes described in
the first volume of the Atlas of Chrysophycean Cysts (Duff et al.,
1995), we believe that most of the common stomatocysts found in north
temperate freshwaters have now been described.
This Atlas attempts to dispel some of the mystery surrounding
stomatocysts, to facilitate the accurate identification of individual
cyst morphotypes, and to encourage other workers to begin using these
important indicators of environmental change. The terminology is
outlined in detail. This is followed by detailed descriptions of cyst
morphotypes, which continues from work completed in the first Atlas.
Any available biogeographical and ecological information is also
provided.
We believe this Atlas will be useful to paleoecologists who wish to
include stomatocysts in their studies. We also expect this book will be
used by researchers working with living chrysophytes, and those
interested in the morphology and ultrastructure of cyst morphotypes.
Hopefully these descriptions will further accelerate the continued
effort to link cyst morphotypes to the algae that produce them.
