Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America

Gomphonema vibrioides

Reichardt and Lange-Bert. 1991

Gomphonema vibrioides guide
  • Category
    Asymmetric Biraphid
  • Length Range
    70-118 µm
  • Width Range
    9-14 µm
  • Striae in 10 µm
    8-11 in the center valve, 9-15 at the ends

Identification

Gomphonema vibroides LM1 Gomphonema vibroides LM2 Gomphonema vibroides LM3 Gomphonema vibroides LM4 Gomphonema vibroides LM5 Gomphonema vibroides LM6 Gomphonema vibroides LM7
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Description

Valves are narrowly linear-lanceolate, with a bluntly rounded headpole. The footpole is less broad than the headpole. Valves are inflated or tumid in the middle, a feature more more pronounced in larger valves. The axial area is straight, moderately large, and wider at the central valve than at the apices. Striae are punctate, coarse, and radiate near the center. There is an isolated stigma next to a shortened median striae (only slightly shortened opposite stigma) along the central area. Within a population, the position of the stigma varies in distance from the central striae. The central area is small and transapically linear, with shorter striae on either side.

Morphological variation of this taxon is recorded in populations of the United States (Morales 2001). In the Florida Everglades, specimens intergrade across valve length between G. vibrioides and G. intricatum var. vibrio (sensu Fricke in Schmidt 1874-1959, T: 235/10-12).

Note that G. intricatum var. vibrio sensu Fricke  is considered a subjective synonym of G. vibrioides (Reichardt and Lange-Bertalot 1991). However,  G. intricatum var. vibrio sensu Fricke includes several morphotypes with a great deal of morphological variation (Morales 2001). Also considered part of this species complex is Gomphonema intricatum var. vibrio (Ehrenb.) Cleve 1894 which is an objective synonym for G. vibrio Ehrenberg 1843. The unresolved complexity of this group would benefit from further work.

Autecology

This taxon is found in neotropical habitats including: lakes (Coba Lake, Yucatan, Mexico), waterfalls (Agua Azul, near Palenque, Yucatan), rivers, karstic wetlands (Florida Everglades), cenotes, and ponds (Novelo 2007, Tobias and Gaiser 2006). This species is recorded as oligohalobous and found in periphyton, tychoplankton, and plankton.

In the continental U.S., this taxon is tolerant to a wide range of conductivity. It the most widespread and abundant species of Gomphonema in the Florida Everglades, appearing as a dominant taxon in approximately 30% of the stations of Patrick and Reimer (1975).

In the Florida Everglades, populations were recorded in sites including peat- and marl-based soils, deep sloughs, shallow prairies, and pristine and enriched environments (Tobias and Gaiser 2006). Average weighted means for parameters for sites in their study were AWM water depth of 51 cm, pH of 6.8, and total phosphorus of 35 µg/L.

FCE LTE Rmap 600dpi
Credit: Evelyn Gaiser
Long-term Ecological Research site map
Florida Everglades
Credit: Evelyn Gaiser
Typical habitat of Gomphonema vibriodes in the Florida Everglages.

Original Description

Gomphonema vibrioides n. sp.

Syn.: Gomphonema intricatum var. vibrio sensu M. Schmidt u. Fricke in A.S. Atlas T: 235/10-12 (non alii)

Frustula e facie cincturae paullo cuneata seriebus punctorum valde crassorum sed fere indistinctorum apparentes. Valvae anguste lanceolatae ad lineari-lanceolatae, quoad maiores in media inflatae, apicibus superioribus et inferioribus paene aequalibus formatis. Longitudo 47,5-105 μm, latitudo 6,7-10,4 μm. Rami raphae late lateraliter positi. Area axialis modice ampla, area centralis parva singula stria media abbreviata. Distincte separata stria media contraria est stigma solitaria atque prope nodulum centralem posita. Striae transapicales modice radiantes, 9-10 in μm, distincte punctatae, puncta 20-24 in 10 μm.

  • Author
    Reichardt and Lange-Bert. 1991
  • Length Range
    47.5-105 µm
  • Width
    6.7-10.4 µm
  • Striae in 10µm
    9-10

Original Images

Gomphonema vibrioides orig illus
Gomphonema vibrioides orig illus2
Gomphonema vibrioides orig desc

Citations & Links

Citations

Links

  • Index Nominum Algarum
    Original
  • DiatomBase
    Link
  • North American Diatom Ecological Database
    NADED ID: 37321
  • The Academy of Natural Sciences, Drexel University
    Link

Cite This Page

Johnson, K., Gaiser, E., Tobias, F. (2023). Gomphonema vibrioides. In Diatoms of North America. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://diatoms.org/species/gomphonema-vibrioides

Responses

The 15 response plots show an environmental variable (x axis) against the relative abundance (y axis) of Gomphonema vibrioides 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.