Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America

Navicula volcanica

Bahls and Potapova 2015

Navicula Ludloviana Guide
  • Category
    Symmetric Biraphid
  • Length Range
    100-176 µm
  • Width Range
    30-37 µm
  • Striae in 10 µm
    6 in the center of the valve, 8 at the ends
  • Reported As
    Navicula ludloviana (Diatoms of the United States)

Identification

Navicula ludloviana LM1 Navicula ludloviana LM2 Navicula ludloviana LM3 Navicula ludloviana LM4 Navicula ludloviana LM5
View image metadata
Navicula volcanica SEM2 Navicula volcanica SEM1

Description

Valves are broadly rhombic with rounded apices. The axial and central areas are moderately wide, one-third to one-half the valve width, together forming a narrow lanceolate shape with a tumid center. The central area is rhombic, surrounded by alternately long and short striae. The raphe is lateral and somewhat bowed, concave to the primary side of the valve. The proximal raphe ends are inflated and tipped slightly to the secondary side. The terminal raphe fissures are shaped like question marks. Striae are curved and strongly radiate. Internally, the striae are within deep grooves, 6–8 in 10 μm. Areolae number about 28 in 10 μm. Internally, the areolae are apically elongated and occluded by hymens. The external openings of the areolae are small and fused into a narrow slit on the external valve surface. Cells are solitary with two plate-like chloroplasts lying along the girdle on each side of the valve.

Autecology

To date, Navicula volcanica has been recorded from two adjacent headwater streams in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon: North Umpqua River and the upper Clearwater River. Measured pH values in these two streams range from 6.7 to 7.7 and conductivity values range from 38 to 61 µS/cm.

Nu Upstream Of Lemolo 1
Credit: Kurt Carpenter, USGS
North Umpqua River, Oregon: type locality of Navicula subwalkeri.
Navicula Volcanica 500101 400X B
Credit: Loren Bahls
Preserved specimen of Navicula volcanica with intact chloroplast and four large oil droplets. Scale bar = 10 µm.

Original Description

Valves broadly rhombic with rounded apices. Length 100–176 μm, width 30–37 μm. Axial and central areas moderately wide, one-third to one-half the valve width, together forming a narrow lanceolate shape with a tumid center. Central area rhombic, surrounded by alternately long and short striae. Raphe lateral and somewhat bowed, concave to the primary side of the valve. Proximal raphe ends inflated and tipped slightly to the secondary side. Terminal raphe fissures shaped like question marks. Striae curved, strongly radiate, structured internally as deep grooves, 6–8 in 10 μm. Areolae about 28 in 10 μm. Internally, areolae apically elongated, occluded by hymens. External areolae openings small and fused into a narrow slit on external valve surface. Cells solitary with two plate-like chloroplasts lying along the girdle on each side of the valve.

  • Author
    Bahls and Potapova 2015
  • Length Range
    100-176 µm
  • Width
    30-37 µm
  • Striae in 10µm
    6-8

Original Images

N Volcanica Orig Image

Updates

Apr 18, 2024 - Correction of taxon name

This taxon was originally posted on Diatoms of the US as Navicula ludloviana in 2011. Later, the taxon was examined further and found to be a new taxon. It was described as N. volcanica Bahls and Potapova 2015. The text on this taxon page was adjusted to reflect the change. - S. Spaulding

Cite This Page

Bahls, L., Potapova, M. (2011). Navicula volcanica. In Diatoms of North America. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://diatoms.org/species/navicula_volcanica

Responses

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