Nitzschia
Hassall 1845 Category: Nitzschioid
TYPE SPECIES: Nitzschia elongata Hassall
Image Credit: Marina Potapova, Sarah Hamsher, Sarah Spaulding
CLASS: Bacillariophyceae
ORDER: Bacillariales
FAMILY: Bacillariaceae
- Raphe eccentric, within a keel
- Keel supported by internal fibulae
- Raphe of each valve on opposite sides of the frustule
The nitzschoid raphe is positioned eccentrically within a keel which is supported by fibulae. Valves lack a sternum. Within the genus, species have a large range in size, from very small to very large.
Nitzschia is a very common genus with a large number of species that are often difficult to identify. Some Nitzschia species reach great abundance in waters high in organic pollution.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Nitzschia. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 23, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Nitzschia
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009
Reviewer: Sam Rushforth
Citations
Hohn, M.H. and Hellerman, J. (1963). The taxonomy and structure of diatom populations from three Eastern North American rivers using three sampling methods. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 82(3):250-329.
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.
Krammer, K. and Lange-Bertalot, H. (1988). Bacillariophyceae. 2. Teil: Bacillariaceae, Epithemiaceae, Surirellaceae. In: Ettl, H., J. Gerloff, H. Heynig and D. Mollenhauer (eds.) Susswasserflora von Mitteleuropa, Band 2/2. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Jena.
Trobajo, R., Clavero, E., Chepurnov, V.A., Sabbe, K., Mann, D.G., Ishihara, S. and Cox, E.J. (2009). Morphological, genetic and mating diversity within the widespread bioindicator Nitzschia palea (Bacillariophyceae). Phycologia 48: 443-459. 10.2216/08-69.1
Trobajo, R., Mann, D.G., Chepurnov, V.A., Clavero, E. and Cox, E.J. (2006). Taxonomy, life cycle, and auxosporulation of Nitzschia fonticola (Bacillariophyta). Journal of Phycology 42:1353-1372 . 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2006.00291.x