This paper presents a taxonomic survey of the desmid flora of a marginal oxbowl lake on the River Acre - Lago Novo Andirá (AM), northern Brazil. The study is based on 52 samples collected over 13 consecutive months (May 1988 to June 1989). Ninety-eight taxa of desmids were identified and described, classified in 10 genera and 3 families. Of the 98 taxa, 38 are variation of the corresponding typical forma. The genera Cosmarium, Closterium and Staurastrum were qualitatively the best-represented in the lake, with 29, 19, and 16 species respectively. The least represented were Gonatozygon, Octacanthium, and Xanthidium, each one with a single species. Geographical distribution was based on all data in the literature published up to December 1998 including publications in which there are morphological descriptions and/ or illustrations of the algae, as well as those in which mere check lists were considered. Taxonomic problems involved were directly related to the morphological variation observed within the populations, and the genera Staurastrum displayed the greatest number of taxonomic difficulties in conflict with data in the literature. Morphological variation observed at population level made the infraspecific identification of Euastrum verrucosum Ehrenberg ex Ralfs impossible.
Desmids; Amazonian Lake; Taxonomy