Gomphonema superiorense | Species - Diatoms of North America

Category

Asymmetric Biraphid
Length Range

23.2-26 µm
Width Range

3.6-4.2 µm
Striae in 10 µm

13-14 in the valve center, 15-16 at the headpole, 14-15 at the footpole

Contributor

David R.L. Burge - Dec 2016
Reviewer

Loren Bahls - Feb 2017

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Identification

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Description

Valves are narrow and lanceolate, tapering to protracted, rostrate apices. The apices are rounded and generally equal in size, however in some specimens the footpole is wider than the headpole. A stigmoid is present in the central area. The central area is bordered by a single shortened stria on each side. The striae are weakly radiate at the valve center, becoming parallel at the apices. The axial area is very narrow and lanceolate. The raphe is filiform and may be weakly curved in some specimens. The proximal raphe ends are simple and the distal ends hook to the one side.

Comparisons with similar taxa were made using Lange-Bertalot (1986).

Autecology

Gomphonema superiorense was described from an epilithic littoral habitat at F.J. McLain State Park, Lake Superior, Houghton County, Michigan. The slide examined for this webpage was an epilithic sample from Superior Shoal, at a depth of 32ft. This taxon does not appear in the USGS BioData database.

Size Range, µm3

101-1000
Motility

Moderately motile
Attachment

Prostrate
Habitat

Benthic
Waterbody

Inland
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Original Description

Valves broadest at the center, tapering gently to the protracted headpole and rounded base. Axial area is narrow. Central area is rectangular, formed by 1-2 shortened stria on either side. A stigma is present. The raphe is lateral, weakly undulate. Striae are radiate to parallel, 11-13 in 10 µm, 14-16 in 10 µm at the poles. Length 20-32, breadth 4-6 µm.

Author

Kociolek and Stoermer 1991
Length Range

20-32 µm
Width

4-6 µm
Striae in 10µm

11-13 in the valve center, 14-16 at the poles

Original Images

Citations & Links

Citations

Cite This Page

Burge, D. (2016). Gomphonema superiorense. In Diatoms of North America. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://diatoms.org/species/51845/gomphonema_superiorense

Responses

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