Mastogloia elliptica
(Agardh) Cleve in Schmidt et al. 1893 Category: Symmetrical biraphid
BASIONYM: Frustulia elliptica Agardh 1824
LM scalebar = 10 µm = 80 pixels.
Observations
Contributor: Loren Bahls - January 2012
Length Range: 17-57 µm
Width Range: 8.1-12.8 µm
Striae in 10 µm: 15-18
Description
Valves are elliptical to linear-elliptical with convex to nearly parallel sides and blunt, obtusely rounded apices. The axial area is narrow, barely wider than the raphe, and the central area is circular. Raphe branches are lateral and sinuous, with weakly expanded proximal ends. Partecta are numerous and all about the same size. Striae consist of single rows of areolae and are radiate throughout. Areolae are coarse and number 16-20 in 10 µm.
Original Description
Basionym: Frustulia elliptica
Author: Agardh 1824
Length Range: µm
Striae in 10 µm:
Original Description
Original Images
Cite This Page:
Bahls, L. (2012). Mastogloia elliptica. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/species/mastogloia_elliptica
Species: Mastogloia elliptica
Contributor: Loren Bahls
Reviewer: Marina Potapova
Image Credit: Loren Bahls
- Partecta all of same size
- Striae uniseriate
- Raphe branches sinuous
Valves are elliptic to linear-elliptic with bluntly rounded ends. Partecta are all the same size. Striae consist of single rows of coarse areolae. Raphe branches are sinuous (not straight).
Compare
Mastogloia grevillei has striae composed of double rows of areolae. Mastogloia pumila has lyrate lateral sterna and straight (not sinuous) raphe branches.
Mastogloia grevillei
Mastogloia pumila
Citations
Agardh, C.A. (1824). Systema algarum. Literis Berlingianis, pp. 1-312.
Krammer, K. and Lange-Bertalot, H. (1986). Bacillariophyceae. 1. Teil: Naviculaceae. In: Ettl, H., J. Gerloff, H. Heynig and D. Mollenhauer (eds.) Susswasserflora von Mitteleuropa, Band 2/1. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Jena. 876 pp.
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.
Schmidt, A. (-). (1874-1959). Atlas der Diatomaceen-Kunde, von Adolf Schmidt, continued by Martin Schmidt, Friedrich Fricke, Heinrich Heiden, Otto Muller, Friedrich Hustedt. Reprint 1984, Koeltz Scientific Books, Konigstein, 480 plates.
Links & ID's
Index Nominum Algarum (INA)
California Academy of Sciences (CAS)
North American Diatom Ecological Database (NADED)
NADED ID: 43006
Autecology Discussion
There are 156 records of Mastogloia elliptica in the Montana Diatom Collection, nearly all of them from streams on the Northwestern Great Plains. The mean electrical conductivity of these waters is 3824 μS/cm, mean chloride is 83 mg/L, and mean pH is 8.6. However, in some of these waters such as Salt Creek in Wyoming, conductivity may range up to 45700 μS/cm and chloride content up to 13200 mg/L. Common diatom associates of M. elliptica on the Great Plains include Cymbella pusilla, Mastogloia smithii, Nitzschia microcephala, Navicula peregrina, Tabularia fasciculata, Amphora coffeaeformis, Entomoneis paludosa, and Ctenophora pulchella. Patrick and Reimer (1986) report M. elliptica as a halophilic to mesohalobic taxon characteristic of coastal areas, but also found in inland lakes with some salinity. In Europe, Krammer and Lange-Bertalot (1986) report M. elliptica from brackish waters in coastal areas and from saline inland waters.
Images
Stockade Beaver Creek below Salt Creek, Weston County, Wyoming: home of Mastogloia elliptica.
Credit/Source: Photo courtesy Wyoming DEQ.