Tabellaria
Tabellaria spp. · Phytoplankton
Under the microscope · Photo: Thomas Gyselinck / CC BY
Also called Zigzag diatom
How to identify Tabellaria
- Under the microscope: rectangle shaped diatoms joined at the corners into zigzag chains or stars
- From the face view each cell has a swollen middle and ends
- Golden brown color
- In the water: spring blooms add brown color and occasionally fishy odors
Similar species
Asterionella stars are made of narrow rods without a swollen middle; Fragilaria forms flat ribbons.
Profile
| Season | Spring and fall. |
|---|---|
| Starts | About 40 to 55 F |
| Light | Moderate light |
| Depth | Mixed water column |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Cell division |
| Habitat | Lakes and reservoirs, especially soft water, clear to moderately nutrient rich; common in mountain lakes. |
Why it matters in a lake
Common in clearer lakes and reservoirs. Large numbers can clog filters.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Chromista |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Bacillariophyta |
| Class | Bacillariophyceae |
| Order | Tabellariales |
| Family | Tabellariaceae |
| Scientific name | Tabellaria spp. |
Fragilaria
Cyclotella
Asterionella
Navicula
Aulacoseira
Ulnaria (Synedra)
Nitzschia
Stephanodiscus
Melosira
GomphonemaNeed a hand?
Want to know what is in your water?
Lab counts of the algae in your lake show what is growing, how much and whether a bloom is coming.
Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596