Microcostatus
Johansen & Sray 1998 Category: Symmetrical biraphid
TYPE SPECIES: Microcostatus krasskei (Hustedt) Johansen & Sray
CLASS: Bacillariophyceae
ORDER: Naviculales
FAMILY:
- Axial area with depressions on either side of a prominent central sternum
- Axial depressions contain small costae
Frustules of Microcostatus are small in size. The axial area includes lyre-shaped depressions on both sides of the prominent sternum. The depressions contain small costae (microcostae). Striae not visible with the light microscope. SEM reveals striae are present and comprised of single rows of areolae. In living cells two plastids are present, pressed to the cingulum.
The genus contains the former Navicula krasskei Hustedt and other small species from aerophilous habitats.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Microcostatus. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 23, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Microcostatus
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009
Reviewer: Sam Rushforth
Citations
Hustedt, F. (1930). Die Kieselalgen Deutschlands, Osterreichs und der Schweiz mit Berucksichtigung der ubrigen Lander Europas sowie der angrenzenden Meersgebiete. In: Dr. L. Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz. Leipzig, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Geest und Portig K.-G. Vol. 7, Part 3, pp. 557-816.
Patrick, R.M. and Reimer, C.W. (1966). The Diatoms of the United States exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii, V. 1. Monographs of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 13.
Van de Vijver, B., Beyens, L. and Iserentant, R. (2004). Microcostatus zackenbergensis Van de Vijver, Beyens et Iserentant sp. nov. and Microcostatus deslooveri Iserentant et Van de Vijver sp. nov.: two new aerophilic diatoms from Greenland and Papua New Guinea. Nova Hedwigia 78: 389-397.
Van de Vijver, B., Ector, L., de Hann, M. and Zidarova, R. (2010). The genus Microcostatus in the Antarctic region. Diatom Research 25: 417-443.