LM scalebar = 10 µm = 80 pixels.
Observations
Contributor: Marina Potapova - May 2009
Length Range: 10–40 µm
Width Range: 6–12 µm
Striae in 10 µm: 25-35
Description
Frustules are rectangular in girdle view. Valves are elliptical-lanceolate with broadly rounded ends, 6-12 µm wide, 10-40 µm long. Transapical ribs are 3-6 in 10 µm. Striae are uniseriate, consisting of small poroid areolae, 25-35 in 10 µm. The axial area is linear, very narrow. One rimoportula is present at one valve apex. Apical pore fields are present at both apices.
Original Description
Basionym: Diatoma mesodon
Author: Kützing 1844
Length Range: µm
Striae in 10 µm:
Original Description
D. articulis oblongis medio paucidentatis, a latere secundario ventricoso lanceolatis, striis transversalibus mediis 3 - 4.
Original Images
Cite This Page:
Potapova, M. (2009). Diatoma mesodon. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/species/Diatoma_mesodon
Species: Diatoma mesodon
Contributor: Marina Potapova
Reviewer: Sam Rushforth
Image Credit: Marina Potapova
- Valves elliptical-lanceolate with rounded ends
- Valve 6 to 12 µm long
- Transapical costae 3-6 in 10 µm
- Rimoportula single, near one valve apex
Valves elliptical-lanceolate with broadly rounded apices. Transapical striae and costae visible in the light microscope.
Compare
Diatoma mesodon differs from Diatoma vulgaris by its more elliptical shape and denser striae and costae. Diatoma hyemalis is longer and the valve shape is more linear.
Diatoma vulgaris
Diatoma hyemalis
(Kützing) Heiberg
Citations
Kützing, F.T. (1844). Die kieselschaligen Bacillarien oder Diatomeen. Nordhausen. 152 pp., 30 pls.
Williams, D.M. (1985). Morphology, taxonomy and inter-relationships of the ribbed araphid diatoms from the genera Diatoma and Meridion (Diatomaceae: Bacillariophyta). Bibliotheca Diatomologica 8: 1-228.
Links & ID's
Index Nominum Algarum (INA)
California Academy of Sciences (CAS)
North American Diatom Ecological Database (NADED)
NADED ID: 27002
Autecology Discussion
Cold water species
EMAP Assessment
Sampling for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) western Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) study was completed during the years 2000-2004 (see citations at bottom of this page). Streams and rivers in 12 western states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming). Over 1200 sites on streams and rivers in 12 western states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming) were selected for sampling based on a stratified randomized design. This type of design insures that ecological resources are sampled in proportion to their actual geographical presence. Stratified randomized design also allows for estimates of stream length with a known confidence in several “condition classes” (good or least-disturbed, intermediately-disturbed, and poor or most-disturbed) for biotic condition, chemistry and habitat.
EMAP Distribution
Diatoma mesodon
Distribution
The distribution map represents the relative abundance of this Diatoma mesodon in the western EMAP study. Relative abundance is a measure of the proportion of cells of this species based on a "fixed count" of 300 total diatom cells counted and identified. Each of the western EMAP sample sites is shown, either with a black dot for sites where Diatoma mesodon was not recorded, or with a red circle indicating the relative abundance of Diatoma mesodon.
Note that the size of the proportional symbols varies between species to help show both abundant and rare species.
Scale for the map to the left
EMAP Response Plots
Diatoma mesodon
EMAP citations
Results are published in:
Johnson, T., Hermann, K., Spaulding, S., Beyea, B., Theel, C., Sada, R., Bollman, W., Bowman, J., Larsen, A., Vining, K., Ostermiller, J., Petersen, D. Hargett, E. and Zumberge, J. (2009). An ecological assessment of USEPA Region 8 streams and rivers. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Report, 178 p.
Stoddard, J. L., Peck, D. V., Olsen, A. R., Larsen, D. P., Van Sickle, J., Hawkins, C. P., Hughes, R. M., Whittier, T. R., Lomnicky, G. A., Herlihy, A. T., Kaufman, P. R., Peterson, S. A., Ringold, P. L., Paulsen, S. G., and Blair, R. (2005). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) western streams and rivers statistical summary. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Report 620/R-05/006, 1,762 p.
Stoddard, J. L., Peck, D. V., Paulsen, S. G., Van Sickle, J., Hawkins, C. P., Herlihy, A. T., Hughes, R. M., Kaufman, P. R., Larsen, D. P., Lomnicky, G. A., Olsen, A. R., Peterson, S. A., Ringold, P. L., and Whittier, T. R. (2005). An ecological assessment of western streams and rivers. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Report 620/R-05/005, 49 p.