New Gomphonema Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyceae: Gomphonemataceae) species from Xinjiang Province, China

Five new species of the diatom genus Gomphonema are described from high-elevation localities in Xinjiang Province, China. Morphological features of these new taxa are described based on light and scanning electron microscopy. Most of the new species are morphologically similar to other 'typical' members of the genus, sharing C-shaped areolae formed by external flaps or occlusions. Gomphonema intricatioides sp. nov. differs from the other species by having internal areolar occlusions. This study follows others describing new species of Gomphoneis from the same region. Xinjiang Province is home to many new species, especially in higher elevation localities that are isolated from other regions. These more remote locations may be insulated from the impacts of human disturbance, and thus harbour more endemic species.