Diatoma moniliformis

Kützing 1833      Category: Araphid
BASIONYM: Diatoma moniliforme Kützing 1831
SYNONYM(S): Diatoma tenue var. moniliforme Kützing 

Diatoma mesodon

 

Diatoma tenuis
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LM scalebar = 10 µm = 40 pixels.

Observations

Contributor: Marina Potapova - May 2009
Length Range: 10–40 µm
Width Range: 2.5-6.0 µm
Striae in 10 µm: 50-60

Description

Cells form zig-zag colonies. Frustules are rectangular in girdle view, valves are elliptical to lanceolate with rounded to subrostrate apices, valves are 10-40 µm in length and 2.5-6.0 µm in width. Transapical ribs number 6-11 in 10 µm. Striae are uniseriate and composed of small poroid areolae, 50-60 in 10 µm. Axial area is linear, very narrow. One rimportula is positioned within in a transapical rib at one, or both, valve apices. Apical pore fields are present at both apices.

Original Description

Basionym: Diatoma moniliforme
Author: Kützing 1831
Length Range: µm
Striae in 10 µm:

Original Description

Frustulis quadraticis, longam seriam formatibus.

Original Images

Cite This Page:
Potapova, M. (2009). Diatoma moniliformis. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 25, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/species/Diatoma_moniliformis

Species: Diatoma moniliformis

Contributor: Marina Potapova

Reviewer: Sam Rushforth

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Image Credit: Marina Potapova

  1. Smaller valves elliptical with rounded ends
  2. Larger valves lanceolate with subrostrate ends
  3. Valve width most often 3-5 µm
  4. Transapical ribs 6-11 in 10 µm

Valves elliptical to elliptical-lanceolate with rounded to subcapitate apices. Transapical ribs clearly visible under LM, striae not visible under LM.

Compare

D. moniliformis is most similar to D. tenuis, but the valve ends are not capitate. It can be distinguished from D. vulgaris by its smaller size and narrower valve.

Diatoma vulgaris

Diatoma tenuis

Citations

Kützing, F.T. (1833). Synopsis Diatomacearum oder Versuch einer systematischen Zusammenstellung der Diatomeen. Linnaea 8(5): 529-620, pls. XIII-XIX.

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)

Transfer INA
Original INA

California Academy of Sciences (CAS)

North American Diatom Ecological Database (NADED)

NADED ID: 27008

Autecology Discussion

Fresh and brackishwater. Forms zig-zag colonies attached to substrates by a mucilage pad.

Habits

Size Range

11-100 µm3 (ie Achnanthidium)
101-1000 µm3 (ie Amphora veneta)

Motility

non motile

Attachment

prostrate (e.g. mucilage pad)

Habitat

benthic

Colony

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 moniliformis

Distribution

The distribution map represents the relative abundance of this Diatoma moniliformis 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 moniliformis was not recorded, or with a red circle indicating the relative abundance of Diatoma moniliformis.

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 moniliformis

Responses

The 15 response plots show an environmental variable (x axis) against the relative abundance (y axis) of Diatoma moniliformis from all the stream reaches where it was present. Note that the relative abundance scale is the same on each plot. Explanation of each environmental variable and units are as follows:

ELEVATION = stream reach elevation (meters)
STRAHLER = distribution plot of the Strahler Stream Order
SLOPE = stream reach gradient (degrees)
W1_HALL = an index that is a measure of streamside (riparian) human activity that ranges from 0 - 10, with a value of 0 indicating of minimal disturbance to a value of 10 indicating severe disturbance.
PHSTVL = pH measured in a sealed syringe sample (pH units)
log_COND = log concentration of specific conductivity (µS/cm)
log_PTL = log concentration of total phosphorus (µg/L)
log_NO3 = log concentration of nitrate (µeq/L)
log_DOC = log concentration of dissolved organic carbon (mg/L)
log_SIO2 = log concentration of silicon (mg/L)
log_NA = log concentration of sodium (µeq/L)
log_HCO3 = log concentration of the bicarbonate ion (µeq/L)
EMBED = percent of the stream substrate that is embedded by sand and fine sediment
log_TURBIDITY = log of turbidity, a measure of cloudiness of water, in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
DISTOT = an index of total human disturbance in the watershed that ranges from 1 - 100, with a value of 0 indicating of minimal disturbance to a value of 100 indicating severe disturbance.

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.