Anomalous Cells of Nitzschia pungens GRUNOW found in Eutrophic Marine Waters

Abstract

Many anomalous cells of Nitzschia pungens, bearing 1-3 swellings in the girdle, were found in wild samples collected from eutrophic coastal waters. The swellings appear as extrusions of the girdle. They are accompanied with undulation of the valve margin and sometimes with a slight disorder of the interstriae. The cause is unknown but it is presumable that some organic compound in drainage from the land might be responsible for causing deformed cells.