Diatoma ehrenbergii
Kützing 1844 Category: Araphid
BASIONYM: Diatoma ehrenbergii Kützing 1844
SYNONYM(S): Diatoma vulgaris var. ehrenbergii (Kützing) Grunow 1862
REPORTED AS: Diatoma vulgare var. grande (Patrick and Reimer 1966, p. 110, Pl. 2, Figs. 13-14)
LM scalebar = 10 µm = 40 pixels.
Observations
Contributor: David R.L. Burge | Mark Edlund - July 2015
Length Range: 31-121 µm
Width Range: 4.5-9.3 µm
Striae in 10 µm: 35-40
Description
Valves are narrow and elongate becoming lanceolate in smaller valves. Apices are broadly rounded sub-rostrate to capitate. Costae are mostly primary, and number 9-15 in 10 µm. Secondary and tertiary costae are commonly present. A single rimoportula is present, oriented perpendicular to the apical axis, near one of the apices. Striae are uniseriate, not visible in LM. Apical porefields are present at each apex. Frustules are attached to the substratum, or joined in zig-zag colonies by mucilage.
Original Description
Basionym: Diatoma ehrenbergii
Author: Kützing 1844
Length Range: µm
Striae in 10 µm:
Original Description
DIATOMA EHRENBERGII. Taf. 17. Fig. XVII. 1-3. (420/1). D. affixum, stipite minutulo; articulis validis medium versus parum contractis, a latere secundario in media parte dilatatis, prope apices capitatos contractis, isthmo pulvinato distinctissimo concatenatis; striis in 1/106’” 11.
Original Images
Cite This Page:
Burge, D., and Edlund, M. (2015). Diatoma ehrenbergii. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved August 20, 2017, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/species/diatoma_ehrenbergii
Species: Diatoma ehrenbergii
Contributor: David R.L. Burge | Mark Edlund
Reviewer: Kalina Manoylov
Image Credit: David Burge, Diane Winter
- Valves narrow, elongate
- Costae 9-15 in 10 µm
- Apices sub-rostrate to capitate
- Single rimoportula present
Valves are narrow and elongate. Apices are sub-rostrate to capitate. A single rimoportula is present near the apical pore field.
Compare
Diatoma ehrenbergii is similar in costa density to D. vulgaris, D. tenuis, and D. moniliformis, therefore D. ehrenbergii is distinguished from other Diatoma species primarily by valve outline. The narrow elongate valves and capitate apices of D. ehrenbergii differs from the elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate D. vulgaris. Diatoma tenuis differs by having more narrow valves (width 2.9-4.9 µm), compared to D. ehrenbergii (width 4.5-9.3 µm). In particular, the small valves of D. ehrenbergii are wider than the small valves of D. tenuis. Diatoma moniliformis has a smaller length and width range than D. ehrenbergii, and D. moniliformis differs by lacking capitate apices.
Diatoma vulgaris
Diatoma tenuis
Diatoma moniliformis
Citations
Grunow, A. (1862). Die österreichischen Diatomaceen nebst Anschluss einiger neuen Arten von andern Lokalitäten und einer kritischen Uebersicht der bisher bekannten Gattungen und Arten. Erste Folge. Epithemieae, Meridioneae, Diatomeae, Entopyleae, Surirelleae, Amphipleureae. Zweite Folge. Familie Nitzschieae. Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 12: 368, Pl. 7, fig. 8.
Kützing, F.T. (1844). Die kieselschaligen Bacillarien oder Diatomeen. Nordhausen. 152 pp., 30 pls.
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.
Links & ID's
Index Nominum Algarum (INA)
California Academy of Sciences (CAS)
North American Diatom Ecological Database (NADED)
NADED ID: 27017
Autecology Discussion
Originally described from Europe, there are only a few verified records of D. ehrenbergii in the United States. We observed D. ehrenbergii growing in the epilithon in the littoral zone of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
Live populations are often seen in girdle view forming zigzag chains. Careful focus is required to observe the rostrate ends that distinguish this taxon from other species of Diatoma.
Images
Healthy cells have discoid chloroplasts which become reduced and lose their golden brown color under formaldehyde preservation.
Credit/Source: David Burge
Recently collected specimens shown to illustrate colony formation and discoid chloroplasts.
Credit/Source: David Burge