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Sub-Division Bacillariophyceae (Diatomaceae) - Diatoms

Diatoms are unicells that share the feature of having a cell wall made of silicon dioxide. This opaline or glass frustule is composed of two parts (valves) -- an epitheca and hypotheca -- which fit together like a Petri dish (epitheca to the exterior and hypotheca to the interior) with the help of a cingulum or set of girdle bands.

The taxonomy of diatoms is based in large part on the shape and structure of the siliceous valves. Although some species can be identified in the living state, species-level identification usually requires examination of the shells under high-powered microscopy after the living cells and mucilage have been removed or 'cleared'.

Diatoms only construct new walls during cell division. After the cell divides, the epitheca and hypotheca separate, and new valves are laid down between them. Because the frustule cannot grow once it has been laid down, the mean size of a dividing population of diatoms gets smaller and smaller with time. Fortunately, diatoms can also reproduce sexually, producing offspring that secrete a wholly new cell wall from scratch, restoring the original size.

Diatoms are an extremely important and diverse portion of the Great Lakes phytoplankton community. The spring diatom bloom provides the first pulse of photosynthesis in the lakes for the year kicking the food web into gear. The fall diatom bloom is also important to the organisms in the lake providing a pulse of food that will carry them through the winter. Not all diatoms are planktonic (free-floating); many cling to surfaces such as aquatic plants, molluscs, crustaceans, and even turtles. The Great Lakes are home to more than 1400 species of diatoms.

See:

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Great Lakes Diatom Home Page - University of Michigan This includes a checklist of Great Lakes species, taxonomic keys to group, photos of most species, size and morphology, and ecology.

Dominant Great Lakes Diatoms

Lake Superior
Lake Michigan
Lake Huron
Lake Erie
Lake Ontario
Aulacoseira islandica. Courtesy of EPA. Aulacoseira islandica. Courtesy of EPA. Aulacoseira islandica. Courtesy of EPA. Aulacoseira islandica. Courtesy of EPA. Aulacoseira islandica. Courtesy of EPA.
Cyclotella comta. Courtesy of Water Resources Environmental. Aulacoseira subarctica. Courtesy of Diatoms of the Swedish West Coast Aulacoseira subarctica. Courtesy of Diatoms of the Swedish West Coast Stephanodiscus hantzschii. Courtesy of MY Stephanodiscus niagarae. Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences.
Stephanodiscus subtransylvanicus. Courtesy of Museo Virtual, Universidad Michoacana. Stephanodiscus subtransylvanicus. Courtesy of Museo Virtual, Universidad Michoacana. Tabellaria flocculosa. Courtesy of Michigan Tech. Stephanodiscus niagarae. Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences. Stephanodiscus alpinus. Courtesy of the University of Michigan
Stephanodiscus niagarae. Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences. Stephanodiscus alpinus. Courtesy of the University of Michigan Tabellaria fenestrata. Courtesy of Michigan Tech. Stephanodiscus binderanus. Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences. Thalassiosira baltica. Courtesy of AL.
Cyclotella comta. Courtesy of Water Resources Environmental. Fragilaria crotonensis. Courtesy of Michigan Tech. Stephanodiscus subtransylvanicus. Courtesy of Museo Virtual, Universidad Michoacana. Stephanodiscus alpinus. Courtesy of University of Michigan Nitzschia lauenburgiana. Courtesy of University of Michigan
NA   Cyclotella comensis. Courtesy of EPA Stephanodiscus parvus. Courtesy of EPA Fragilaria crotonensis. Courtesy of Michigan Tech.
Fragilaria crotonensis. Courtesy of Michigan Tech.   Cyclotella comta. Courtesy of Water Resources Environmental. Fragilaria crotonensis. Courtesy of Michigan Tech.  
    Fragilaria crotonensis. Courtesy of Michigan Tech. Cyclotella ocellata. Courtesy of EPA.  
      Cyclotella comensis. Courtesy of EPA  

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Great Lakes Diatoms Species List

Class Bacillariophyceae - Diatoms (See - Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Checklist of Great Lakes Diatoms) - The list below highlights only those species found in the supplemental references. Be sure to click the above link if you want the full list! All species listed below are also included in the linked checklist except: Cyclotella tecta, Cyclotella unipunctata, Gomphonema simus, Nitzschia pilum, Thalassiosira baltica and Synedra socia.

  • Genus Achnanthes
    • Achnanthes brevipes #
    • Achnanthes conspicua *#
    • Achnanthes didyma #
    • Achnanthes dispar *
    • Achnanthes oestrupi *#
  • Genus Achnanthidium
    • Achnanthidium biasolettianum *#
    • Achnanthidium exiguum *#
    • Achnanthidium exilis *
    • Achnanthidium kryophila #
    • Achnanthidium microcephalum *
    • Achnanthidium minutissimum *#
  • Genus Actinocyclus
    • Actinocyclus normanii
      • Actinocyclus normanii fo. subsalsa (aka Coscinodiscus radiatus, C. subsalsa, C. subtilis)E*#
  • Genus Amphipleura
    • Amphipleura pellucida *#
  • Genus Amphora
    • Amphora hemicycla *
    • Amphora ovalis *#H
    • Amphora perpusilla *#
    • Amphora thumensis *#
  • Genus Asterionella
    • Asterionella formosa*#H
  • Genus Aulacoseira
    • Aulacoseira ambigua (aka Gallionella distans, Melosira distans)*H
    • Aulacoseira distans *
    • Aulacoseira granulata (aka Lysigonium granulata, Melosira granulata)*#H
    • Aulacoseira islandica (aka Melosira islandica)*#H DsDmDhDeDo
    • Aulacoseira italica (aka Melosira italica) *#H
    • Aulacoseira subarctica DmDh
  • Genus Brachysira
    • Brachysira vitrea *#
  • Genus Caloneis
    • Caloneis bacillum *
  • Genus Campylodiscus
    • Campylodiscus noricus
      • Campylodiscus noricus var. hibernicus (aka Campylodiscus noricus var. hibernica, C. hibernicus)H
  • Genus Cavinula
    • Cavinula jaernefeltii (aka Navicula jaernefeltii)*
    • Cavinula lacustris (aka Navicula lacustris)*
  • Genus Cocconeis
    • Cocconeis disculus *
    • Cocconeis neodiminuta (aka Cocconeis diminuta)*#
    • Cocconeis pediculus#
    • Cocconeis placentula*#
  • Genus Coscinodiscus
    • Coscinodiscus rothii #
  • Genus Craticula
    • Craticula cuspidata (aka Navicula cuspidata) H
  • Genus Cyclostephanos
    • Cyclostephanos dubius (aka Stephanodiscus dubius)*#H
    • Cyclostephanos tholiformis *#
  • Genus Cyclotella
    • Cyclotella antiqua *
    • Cyclotella atomus E*#
    • Cyclotella catenata *
    • Cyclotella comensis *# DhDe
    • Cyclotella comta *#H DsDh
    • Cyclotella cryptica E*#
    • Cyclotella delicatula* # Ds
    • Cyclotella glomerata *
    • Cyclotella krammeri *#
    • Cyclotella kuetzingiana (aka Cyclotella kutzingiana) *H
      • Cyclotella kuetzingiana var. planetophora (aka Cyclotella kuetzingiana var. phanetophora) H
    • Cyclotella meneghiniana *#
    • Cyclotella michiganiana*#
    • Cyclotella ocellata *#H De
    • Cyclotella pseudostelligeraE*#
    • Cyclotella stelligera *#
    • Cyclotella tecta *
    • Cyclotella unipunctata#
    • Cyclotella wolterecki E*#
  • Genus Cymatopleura
    • Cymatopleura elliptica H
    • Cymatopleura solea *#H
      • Cymatopleura solea var. apiculata H
  • Genus Cymbella
    • Cymbella affinis (aka Cocconema fusidium)#
    • Cymbella cesatii *
    • Cymbella cistula (aka Cocconema cistula)*
    • Cymbella delicatula *
    • Cymbella elginsis (aka C. turgida) H
    • Cymbella lanceolata (aka Cocconema lanceolatum) H
    • Cymbella mexicana H
    • Cymbella microcephala *#
    • Cymbella tumida H
  • Genus Denticula #
    • Denticula tenuis *
      • Denticula tenuis var. crassula H
  • Genus Diatoma
    • Diatoma ehrenbergii E
    • Diatoma hiemale #H
    • Diatoma tenue *#H
      • Diatoma tenue var. elongatum (aka Diatoma elongatum)*H
    • Diatoma vulgare#H
  • Genus Diploneis
    • Diploneis elliptica *
    • Diploneis oculata *
    • Diploneis ovalis *
    • Diploneis parma *
  • Genus Encyonema
    • Encyonema minutum (aka Cymbella minuta)*#
    • Encyonema norvegica (aka Cymbella norvegica)*
    • Encyonema prostratum (aka Cymbella prostrata, aka Gloeonema paradoxum)*#
    • Encyonema silesiacum (aka Cymbella minuta v. silesiacum)H
  • Genus Entomoneis
    • Entomoneis ornata *H
  • Genus Epithemia
    • Epithemia adnata H
      • Epithemia adnata var. saxonica H
    • Epithemia turgida H
  • Genus Eucocconeis
    • Eucocconeis flexella *H
    • Eucocconeis lapponica *
  • Genus Eunotia #
  • Genus Fragilaria
    • Fragilaria capucina*#H
    • Fragilaria crotonensis *#H DsDmDhDeDo
    • Fragilaria intermedia *#H
    • Fragilaria radians (aka Synedra radians) *#
    • Fragilaria vaucheriae*#H
  • Genus Fragilariforma
    • Fragilariforma virescens (aka Fragilaria virescens) *#H
  • Genus Geissleria
    • Geissleria acceptata (aka Navicula acceptata)*
    • Geissleria decussis (aka Navicula decussis)#
  • Genus Gomphoneis
    • Gomphoneis herculeana H
    • Gomphoneis olivacea (aka Gomphonema olivaceum) *#H
  • Genus Gomphonema
    • Gomphonema acuminatum H
    • Gomphonema affine *
    • Gomphonema dichotomum *
    • Gomphonema gracile *
    • Gomphonema parvulum *
    • Gomphonema pseudotenellum (aka G. tenellum) *#
    • Gomphonema simus#
    • Gomphonema tergestinum *
    • Gomphonema ventricosum H
  • Genus Gyrosigma
    • Gyrosigma acuminatum (aka G. spencerii)*H
    • Gyrosigma attenuatum H
    • Gyrosigma sciotoense *#
  • Genus Hippodonta
    • Hippodonta capitata (aka Navicula capitata)*
  • Genus Karayevia
    • Karayevia clevei *#
  • Genus Kobaysia
    • Kobaysia subtilissima (aka Navicula subtilissima)#
  • Genus Martyana
    • Martyana martyi (aka Opephora martyi)*
  • Genus Melosira
    • Melosira varians *
  • Genus Meridion
    • Meridion anceps (aka Diatoma anceps)H
    • Meridion circulare *
  • Genus Navicula
    • Navicula aurora *
    • Navicula cincta *
    • Navicula cryptocefalsa (aka Navicula cryptocephala)*#H
    • Navicula graciloides *
    • Navicula gregaria *#
    • Navicula integra *
    • Navicula lanceolata *#
    • Navicula menisculus *#
    • Navicula minima #
    • Navicula oblonga H
    • Navicula odiosa *#
    • Navicula platystoma *
    • Navicula radiosa *#H
    • Navicula reinhardtii *#H
    • Navicula rhynchocephala *H
    • Navicula seminuloides *#
    • Navicula splendicula #
    • Navicula submuralis *#
    • Navicula tripunctata *
    • Navicula viridula*#
  • Genus Neidium H
  • Genus Nitzschia
    • Nitzschia acicularis *#
    • Nitzschia acula *
    • Nitzschia amphibia *#
    • Nitzschia bacata *
    • Nitzschia capitellata *#
    • Nitzschia closterium *
    • Nitzschia confinis *#
    • Nitzschia denticula *#
    • Nitzschia dissipata *#
    • Nitzschia fonticola *#
    • Nitzschia frustulum *#
    • Nitzschia gandersheimiensis *#
    • Nitzschia graciliformis *#
    • Nitzschia gracilis *
    • Nitzschia heufleriana (aka Nizschia lauenburgiana)*#Do
    • Nitzschia impressa *
    • Nitzschia kuetzingiana *#
    • Nitzschia lacuum *#
    • Nitzschia linearis *H
    • Nitzschia mediocris *
    • Nitzschia palea *#H
    • Nitzschia paleacea *
    • Nitzschia pilum#
    • Nitzschia pura *#
    • Nitzschia pusilla *
    • Nitzschia recta *#
    • Nitzschia romana *
    • Nitzschia rostellata*#
    • Nitzschia sigmoidea *H
    • Nitzschia sociabilis *
    • Nitzschia spiculoides *
    • Nitzschia spiculum *
    • Nitzschia subacicularis *#
    • Nitzschia sublinearis *#
    • Nitzschia subrostrata #
    • Nitzschia tenuis *
    • Nitzschia tropica *#
    • Nitzschia valdestriata *
  • Genus Pinnularia
    • Pinnularia major H
  • Genus Placoneis
    • Placoneis exigua (aka Navicula exigua)*
    • Placoneis gastrum (aka Navicula gastrum)*
    • Placoneis pseudanglica (aka Navicula anglica)*
  • Genus Planothidium
    • Planothidium haukianum*
    • Planothidium lanceolatum *#H
  • Genus Psammothidium
    • Psammothidium levanderi *
    • Psammothidium ventralis #
  • Genus Pseudostaurosira
    • Pseudostaurosira brevistriata (aka Fragilaria brevistriata)*#
  • Genus Reimeria
    • Reimeria sinuata (aka Cymbella sinuata)*
  • Genus Rhoicosphenia#
    • Rhoicosphenia curvata *
  • Genus Sellaphora
    • Sellaphora pupula (aka Navicula pupula)*
    • Sellaphora seminulum (aka Navicula seminulum)*
  • Genus Skeletonema
    • Skeletonema potamos E*H
    • Skeletonema subsalsum E
  • Genus Stauroneis
    • Stauroneis smithii *
  • Genus Staurosira
    • Staurosira construens (aka Fragilaria construens)*#H
  • Genus Staurosirella
    • Staurosirella lapponica (aka Fragilaria lapponica)*
    • Staurosirella leptostauron (aka Fragilaria leptostauron)*H
    • Staurosirella pinnata (aka Fragilaria pinnata)*#H
  • Genus Stephanodiscus
    • Stephanodiscus alpinus *# DmDeDo
    • Stephanodiscus astraea H
    • Stephanodiscus binderanus E*#H De
    • Stephanodiscus carconensis*
    • Stephanodiscus hantzschii *#H
      • Stephanodiscus hantzschii fo. tenuis (aka Stephanodiscus tenuis)*#HDe
    • Stephanodiscus lucens *
    • Stephanodiscus minutulus *#
    • Stephanodiscus niagarae *#H DsDeDo
    • Stephanodiscus parvus *# De
    • Stephanodiscus subtilis E
    • Stephanodiscus subtransilvanicus DsDmDh
    • Stephanodiscus transylvanicus*#
  • Genus Surirella
    • Surirella birostrata *
    • Surirella brebissonii (aka Surirella ovata) *#H
  • Genus Synedra
    • Synedra acus *#
    • Synedra amphicephala *
    • Synedra cyclopum *#
    • Synedra delicatissima *#
    • Synedra filiformis *#
    • Synedra minuscula *
    • Synedra ostenfeldii *#
    • Synedra parasitica *
    • Synedra socia#
    • Synedra tenera #
    • Synedra ulna *#H
  • Genus Tabellaria
    • Tabellaria fenestrata *H Dh
    • Tabellaria flocculosa *#H Dh
  • Genus Thalassiosira
    • Thalassiosira baltica E Do
    • Thalassiosira bramaputrae (aka Coscinodiscus lacustris, Thalassiosira lacustris)E*#
    • Thalassiosira guillardii EE
    • Thalassiosira pseudonana E
    • Thalassiosira weissflogii (aka Thalassiosira fluviatilis) *E
  • Genus Tryblionella
    • Tryblionella acuta (aka Nitzschia acuta)*
    • Tryblionella angustata (aka Nitzschia angustata)*#H
    • Tryblionella gracile (aka Nitzschia tryblionella)#
  • Genus Urosolenia
    • Urosolenia eriensis (aka Rhizosolenia eriensis)*H
    • Urosolenia longiseta (aka Rhizosolenia longiseta)*#

Based on: Stoermer, E. F., Kreis, R. G. Jr. and Andresen, N. A. 1999 Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Checklist of diatoms from the Laurentian Great lakes. II. J. Great Lakes Res. 25:515-566.

*Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Plankton in Lake Michigan 1983 - 1992 . EPA/GLNPO. Epilimnetic Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Biomass and Species Composition in Lake Michigan, 1983 to 1992. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Theodore Lewis and Paul Bertram. October 1994. [Reports Stylotheca aurea - Other references to this species of Chrysophyte cannot be found so this species is not included in the above list]

#Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Plankton in Lake Ontario 1986 - 1992. EPA/GLNPO. Epilimnetic Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Biomass and Species Composition in Lake Ontario, 1986 to 1992. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Theodore Lewis1 and Paul Bertram. July 1995.

H Brown and Manny. 1983. Nearshore Plankton of Hammond Bay, Lake Huron. Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  JGLR 9(4)523-529.

E Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species List.

Ds Dm Dh De Do - Dominant algae species of each Lake - Per Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Results From The Great Lakes National Program Office's Biological Open Water Surveillance Program Of The Laurentian Great Lakes for 1998. EPA.

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Key to the Great Lakes Diatoms

See:

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Great Lakes Diatom Home Page - University of Michigan

and

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Tentative Key for the Identification of Freshwater Diatom Genera

or

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Key to the Common Genera of Freshwater Diatoms - Monash University

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Great Lakes Diatom Genera
Centric Diatoms (Eucentric)
A. normanii fo. subsalsa Actinoptychus sp. Aulacoseira islandica. Courtesy of EPA. Coscinodiscus sp. NA C. dubius One of 2 images in the collection
Actinocyclus Actinoptychus Aulacoseira Coscinodiscus Craspedodiscus Cyclostephanos
Cyclotella comta. Courtesy of Water Resources Environmental. Ellerbeckia arenaria M varians 2 cells girdle view Orthoseira roseana Skeletonema costatum.

Stephanodiscus binderanus. Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences.
Cyclotella Ellerbeckia Melosira Orthoseira Skeletonema Stephanodiscus
Thalassiosira baltica. Courtesy of Algaline.          
Thalassiosira          
Centric Diatoms (Eccentric) - Radially symmetric with a bipolar or multipolar valve outline
Acanthoceras zachariasii
Chaetoceros constrictus. Courtesy of Jan Rines
P. laevis chain (3 cells)
T. musica
U. eriansis - closeup of 2 cells (each partial) with spines intercalated
Pennate Diatoms (Araphid) - Bilaterally symmetric to a central thickening called the central sternum
Asterionella colony
Catacombus gaillonii
C. pulchella One of many photos in the UM collection.
SEM image of Diatoma sp.
Fragilaria crotonensis. Courtesy of Michigan Tech.
F. virescens
Fragilariaopsis kerguelensis.
H. arcus ne of several photos in the UM collection.
NA
M martyi One of several images in the UM collection
Meridion circulare
Opephora sp. One of several Opephora images in the UM collection
P. brevistrata var inflata cell
Staurosira construens
S. leptostaron One of many Starosirella images in the UM collection
Synedra sp. SEM
Tabellaria flocculosa. Courtesy of Michigan Tech.
Tabularia fasciculata
Tetracyclus glans. Courtesy of University of Alberta Diatom Image Archive.
Pennate Diatoms (Monoraphid) - Bilaterally symmetric. One valve has a central sternum. The other has a raphe.
A. exigua v. heterovalva
Achnanthidium sp. SEM
Cocconeis sp. SEM
E. flexella
K. clevei
NA
NA
NA
NA
Pennate Diatoms (Naviculoid) - Symmetric to both the longitudinal and transverse axis, raphes on both valves.
A. pellucida
Entomoneis ornata
A. tuscula
A. sphaerophora
B. vitrea
Caloneis sp. SEM
C. crucicula
C. jaernefeltii
Chamaepinnularia sp.
NA
C. cuspidata
D. contenta

Cavinula

Chamaepinnularia

Diadesmis
Diploneis sp. SEM
E. ornata
F. pygmaea SEM
F. rhomboides
G. thingvallae
G. strigile
H. capitata
NA
NA
L. mutica
M smithii
Navicula sp. SEM
N. temperi One of many Neidium images in the UM collection
O. zachariasi
P. gentilis One of many Pinnularia photos in the UM collection
P. elginensis One of several Placoneis images in the UM collection.
P. lepidoptera v. probasidea
Pleurosigma sp.
Rouxia californica var. minuta
 S. bacillum
S. anceps fo, gracilis One of many Stauroneis photos in the UM collection
S. amphioxys
Plagiotropis lepidoptera
Sellaphora
Pennate Diatoms (Eunotioid) - Raphes on both valves, but reduced to a short structure on each end of the valve.
E. serra One of many Eunotia photos in the UM collection
NA
Pennate Diatoms (Cymbelloid) - Asymmetric (bent), raphes on both valves.
A. ovalis v. pediculus
C. cistula var. gibbosa
D. geminata
Encyonema minutum
G. eriense v. variabilis
G. truncatum SEM
R. sinuata
R. curvata valve view
Pennate Diatoms (Epithemioid) - Raphes on both valves which is borne on a specialized tube-like structure called a canal.
D. lauta
E. smithii
R. gibba var. ventricosa One of several Rhopalodia photos in the UM collection
Pennate Diatoms (Nitzschioid) - Raphes on both valves, raised above the valve surface on a structure called a keel. The keel may be on the midline of the valve or displaced toward the edge.
B. paxillifer cell
Cymbellonitzschia diluviana
H. amphioxys
Nitzschia sp. SEM
T. gracils One of several Tryblionella photos in the UM collection
Pennate Diatoms (Surirelloid) - Raphes are wrapped around the edge of each valve and raised in a special structure called a wing.
C. hibernicus
C. solea var. apiculata One of several Cymatopleura photos in the UM collection
S. intermedia
Surirella sp. SEM

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Diatom Links

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Great Lakes Diatom Home Page - University of Michigan

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Algal Image Laboratory - Bowling Green State University

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  California Academy of Sciences

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  ADIAC: Automatic Diatom Identification And Classification - University of Algarve

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Ohio University - Image Collection

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Diatom Morphology - Berkley

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA site  Diatoms by Wim van Egmond

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteDiatoms on Strings by Jan Parmentier

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteThose Who Live in Glass Houses

Bird iconIndicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA website.
Globe iconIndicates a link to a non-NOAA website or content not generated by NOAA. NOAA is not responsible for the accuracy of content. Please check Privacy and Use Policies of the destination site.

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Last Updated: 2007-03-08

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