Valves are linear-clavate. The valve margins are convex, but not tumid at the center (except for initial valves). The headpole is broadly rounded. The footpole is narrowly rounded. The axial area is narrow, straight and expanded only at the center to form a linear-elliptic central area, bearing a single stigma. The raphe is lateral and undulate. Striae are radiate, more strongly so towardsthe footpole. The biseriate nature of the striae is evident. The longitudinal lines are located about half-way between the axial area and margin. Apical pore fields are bi-lobed.
Initial valves are 108-128 µm long, 21-26 µm wide.
Distribution: Gomphoneis minuta has been confirmed from a number of sites across the U.S., from Washington to Arizona and east to Virginia and North Carolina.
Kociolek, P. (2011). Gomphoneis minuta. In Diatoms of North America. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://diatoms.org/species/gomphoneis_minuta
The 15 response plots show an environmental variable (x axis) against the relative abundance (y axis) of Gomphoneis minuta 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.