Desmid flora of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee, USA) generally is considered to harbor an extraordinarily diverse flora and fauna. Since 1997, a large number of biologists have investigated biodiversity in the park as part of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). Within the ATBI, algae of the park have been studied since 1999. Many desmid species occur in various aquatic and subaerial habitats throughout the park and their diversity is summarized in the present study. A total of 125 desmid taxa have been found in the park since the first study published in 1944., is described.