Valves are weakly triundulate in larger specimens, linear-lanceolate and slightly dorsiventral with rostrate to subcapitate apices. The axial area is narrow and situated mid-valve. The central area is large and rounded, at least one-half the valve width. The raphe is filiform and weakly concave toward the dorsal margin. Proximal raphe ends are weakly expanded and deflected toward the dorsal side. Distal raphe fissures are hooked ventrally. Striae are weakly radiate.
Encyonopsis kutenaiorum has been collected from two small high elevation lakes in western Montana. The pH of these lakes measured 9.0 and 6.7 and specific conductance measured 100 and 36 µS/cm.
Valves linear-lanceolate, slightly dorsiventral. Apices rostrate to subcapitate. Valve length 16.5–21.2 µm; valve width 3.2–3.5 µm. Axial area narrow. Central area large, orbicular, at least one-half valve width. Raphe filiform. Proximal raphe ends weakly expanded, deflected toward the dorsal side. Distal raphe fissures hooked ventrally. Striae radiate, 23–26 in 10 µm.
Bahls, L. (2024). Encyonopsis kutenaiorum. In Diatoms of North America. Retrieved November 17, 2024, from https://diatoms.org/species/encyonopsis_kutenaiorum
The 15 response plots show an environmental variable (x axis) against the relative abundance (y axis) of Encyonopsis kutenaiorum 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.