Melosira
Melosira spp. · Phytoplankton
Under the microscope · Photo: Lena Struwe / CC BY-SA
Also called Melosira varians
How to identify Melosira
- Under the microscope: short, fat cylinder diatoms joined end to end into long chains
- Smooth looking walls, many golden brown plastids
- In the water: forms brown, slimy strands on rocks and plants in canals and streams
- Chains break off into the water
Similar species
Aulacoseira cells are narrower with rows of dots and spines; brown filamentous growth can also be mixed diatoms and cyanobacteria.
Profile
| Season | Spring and fall, and most of the year in springs and canals. |
|---|---|
| Starts | About 40 to 60 F |
| Light | Moderate light |
| Depth | Attached or near the bottom; washed into open water |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Cell division |
| Habitat | Canals, streams, rivers, springs and the edges of ponds and lakes; especially flowing, nutrient rich water. |
Why it matters in a lake
Melosira varians is the common one, mostly on surfaces in moving water. Many planktonic species once called Melosira are now Aulacoseira.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Chromista |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Bacillariophyta |
| Class | Coscinodiscophyceae |
| Order | Melosirales |
| Family | Melosiraceae |
| Scientific name | Melosira spp. |
Fragilaria
Cyclotella
Asterionella
Navicula
Aulacoseira
Ulnaria (Synedra)
Nitzschia
Stephanodiscus
Tabellaria
GomphonemaNeed a hand?
Want to know what is in your water?
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Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596