Are there any Navicula species (Bacillariophyta) living exclusively in high altitude environments of Argentina?

Abstract

Are there any Navicula species (Bacillariophyta) living exclusively in high altitude environments of Argentina? In order to analyze the geographical distribution of 28 species of the genus Navicula Bory sensu stricto, identified in high mountain wetlands in Argentina, we consulted the five available catalogs, publications not included in those works, and unpublished data collected in surveys conducted by our team. Information was gathered from more than 190 water bodies in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, from which maps were constructed using the DIVA-GIS software. These maps allowed us to visualize the distribution of species and relate them to the altitude of the sites where they were found. Only five taxa (18% of total identified species in high mountain wetlands) were found exclusively in high altitude water bodies in Argentina: Navicula atacamana, N. carvajaliana, N. parinacota, N. salinicola var. boliviana and N. phylleptosoma. Of these species, the only one that is not exclusively American is N. phylleptosoma, which would have a wide distribution. While there are numerous studies carried out on the subject of diatoms of Argentina, it is interesting to note the large area of the country that still remains to be surveyed. Future studies may modify the knowledge we now have regarding the distribution of species which is, apparently, restricted to high mountain environments.