Frustulia vulgaris
(Thwaites) De Toni 1891 Category: Symmetrical biraphid
BASIONYM: Schizonema vulgare Thwaites 1848
LM scalebar = 10 µm = 40 pixels.
Observations
Contributor: Pat Kociolek | Carrie Graeff - January 2011
Length Range: 51.7-57.5 µm
Width Range: 11.0-12.0 µm
Striae in 10 µm: 30-31 at the center, 32-34 at the ends
Description
Valves are linear-lanceolate-rhomboid with rostrate and rounded apices. Areolae are round or oval and form transverse striae that are radiate at the center of the valve and slightly or strongly convergent near the apices. Striae are circumradiate about the apices. In SEM, a single row of isolated areolae next to either side of the raphe forms a continuous line. This line of areolae forms a boundary to the axial area and ovoid central area. The raphe branches are slightly curved. Internal, longitudinal ribs are parallel to the raphe. The longitudinal ribs fuse with the helictoglossae to form a porte-crayon structure, but are incomplete at the central nodule. The central nodule is relatively flat as compared to other Frustulia species. In SEM, the external proximal and distal raphe ends form a small Y-shape.
Original Description
Basionym: Schizonema vulgare
Author: Thwaites 1848
Length Range: µm
Striae in 10 µm:
Original Description
Original Images
Cite This Page:
Kociolek, P., and Graeff, C. (2011). Frustulia vulgaris. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 24, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/species/frustulia_vulgaris
Species: Frustulia vulgaris
Contributor: Pat Kociolek | Carrie Graeff
Reviewer: Sarah Spaulding
Image Credit: Carrie Graeff
- Longitudinal ribs incomplete at the valve center
- Striae slightly radiate at valve center
- Central area ovoid
- Valves slightly rhomboid in shape with rostrate apices
- External raphe fissures Y-shaped
The valves are linear-lanceolate-rhomboid in shape with rostrate apices. The striae are slightly radiate at the center of the valve, parallel or slightly convergent near the apices, and convergent at the apices. The longitudinal ribs are discontinuous at the center of the valve and do not fuse with the central nodule. The central area is ovoid in shape. The distal, external raphe fissures form a small Y-shape, usually visible only with SEM.
Compare
Frustulia vulgaris can be distinguished from F. asiatica by its more protracted apices and slightly rhomboid valve shape. The poroids that occur adjacent to the raphe in F. asiatica have not yet been observed in US populations of F. vulgaris. In addition, the valves of F. vulgaris are generally greater in length and width than those of F. asiatica.
Frustulia asiatica
Citations
De Toni, G.B. (1891). Sylloge algarum omnium hucusque cognitarum. Vol. II. Bacillarieae; sectio I. Raphideae. Typis Seminarrii, Patavii.
Links & ID's
Index Nominum Algarum (INA)
California Academy of Sciences (CAS)
North American Diatom Ecological Database (NADED)
NADED ID: 35011
Autecology Discussion
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
Frustulia vulgaris
Distribution
The distribution map represents the relative abundance of this Frustulia vulgaris 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 Frustulia vulgaris was not recorded, or with a red circle indicating the relative abundance of Frustulia vulgaris.
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
Frustulia vulgaris
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.