Posts

Showing posts from January, 2016

Diatom of the month - January 2016: Gomphonema parvulum

Image
by Luca Marazzi* ‘Who’ is it? The genus Gomphonema includes numerous species growing on mucilaginous stalks. These diatoms are a symmetrical biraphid, as the bottom part is usually longer and thinner than the top part and they have two raphes, narrow slits that allow them to move over surfaces . Yes, there are diatoms that perform photosynthesis, move and even eat organic matter ! G. parvulum is on the lower end of the size spectrum for the genus ( length from 15 to over 100 µm and width between 5 and 15 µm ).                                      Gomphonema parvulum , partially    obstructed by Eunotia , in a sample  from the Florida Everglades .          Source : Tobias and Gaiser, 2006 G. parvulum and stalks in a sample from Japan; cell body: 48 µm long, 10 µm wide.  Source : http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/ Where does it live? In North America, species of Gomphonema can be found in many habitat