Valves are linear-lanceolate with subtly triundulate margins and subcapitate apices. The axial area is linear and very narrow, widening slightly near the central area. The stauros is relatively narrow and widens somewhat towards the valve margin. The raphe is filiform and straight, with unexpanded proximal ends. Striae are radiate throughout. Areolae are variably sized and spaced and number about 40 in 10 µm.
Stauroneis kriegeri is common and widespread in small streams and ponds in the western United States (see map under EMAP Assessment). These waters tend to have circumneutral pH and low conductivity (see table below and EMAP Assessment). Common diatom associates of S. kriegeri include Frustulia amphipleuroides, Nupela lapidosa, Eunotia minor, Diadesmis perpusilla, Diatomella balfouriana, Karayevia laterostrata, and Adlafia suchlandtii. Patrick and Reimer (1966) describe this taxon as characteristic of headwater areas; Van de Vijver et al. (2004) report it as a diatom of wet soils in the Antarctic; and Werum and Lange-Bertalot (2004) report it from springs in Europe.
Bahls, L. (2012). Stauroneis kriegeri. In Diatoms of North America. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://diatoms.org/species/stauroneis_kriegeri
The 15 response plots show an environmental variable (x axis) against the relative abundance (y axis) of Stauroneis kriegeri 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.