Die Diatomeen im Gebiet der Stadt Treuchtlingen. 2 Bände. 2018. ca. 10600 (!) Fig. (LM & REM) auf 451 Tafeln. 1184 S. 4to. Leinen.

This book is the attempt to document the diatom flora in the area of the town Treuchtlingen as it was developed at the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21th century. Treuchtlingen is situated in the middle of Bavaria, Germany, at the northern periphery of the Southern Franconian Jurassic Mountains directly at the beginning of the famous valley of the river Altmuhl. Diatoms in the investigated area were studied for more than 40 years.

In general calcilophilous or even calcibiontic diatom communities could be found. In spite of the fact that the investigated area encircles only about 102 km2 and that lakes are lacking, about 730 diatom taxa could be classified in 640 prepared samples. They are documented in more than 10600 (!) LM and SEM micrographs on 451 plates. The long-term investigations allowed to recognize variability of many taxa to a great extent, in many cases full ranges of variation including initial valves could be found. Variability of diatoms is often underestimated and many descriptions of species in the literature are not complete as they show and describe only parts of the life-circles or the most typical representatives of the relevant taxa. Therefore great importance is layed to depict ranges of variation as far as possible. SEM micrographs show micromorphological details of many taxa among them also rare diatoms with insufficiently known ultrastructures. For some of them SEM details are presented for the first time. 23 species are described as new and the existence of further new or possibly independent taxa is discussed in the text. There are two main purposes of this study: Firstly, to explore the diatom flora of my hometown and to document it as far as possible. Since names of diatoms change over the years due to scientific progress and changing species concepts, this can not be done by a list of species but only by an extensive iconography. In this case it can serve as the basis for comparative studies in the future. In times of rapidly changing environmental conditions this may be of special importance. Secondly, to present the experiences and results of investigations on diatom morphology and taxonomy over a long period of time.

A heavy set: 5,7 kg.

Contents (chapter headings): Zusammenfassung / Abstract/ Einleitung/ Das Untersuchungsgebiet/ Methoden/ Fundorte und vorherrschende Diatomeen (Altmühl; Größere Bäche; Kleine Bäche und Rinnsale; Quellen; Weiher und Teiche; Gräben; Kleingewässer)/ Die Diatomeen des Untersuchungsgebietes (Centrales; Pennales (Araphide Diatomeen; Diatomeen mit Eunotia - Raphe; Monoraphide Diatomeen; Diatomeen mit Navicula - Raphe; Diatomeen mit Kanalraphe)/ Dank / Literatur/ Index 1: Untersuchte Materialien/ Index 2: Neue Arten, Kombinationen, Rangstufen, Namen/ Index 3: Namensverzeichnis.