Conticribra guillardii (Hasle) K. Stachura-Suchoples & D.M. Williams

Common Name: A centric diatom

Synonyms and Other Names:

Thalassiosira guillardii Hasle



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Identification: This cylindrical diatom species typically contains 2–6 disc-like chloroplasts. It usually occurs singly but may occasionally form colonies of a few cells connected via threads. There may be 0–12 central fultoportulae and 1 labiate process. The central area generally exhibits a siliceous irregularly shaped ring. Slightly raised costae branch out from the central area on the valve face and may be more or less granular and siliceous, depending on the silica content of the water. Pores on the valve face are somewhat haphazardly distributed in radial rows; areolae are located near the valve margins. Areolae or distinct costae are typically also apparent on the mantle (Hasle 1978, Kiss et al. 1984, Trigueros et al. 2000).


Size: 4–35 µm diameter


Native Range: Exact native range is unclear. Contricribra guillardii is widespread, but not all the locations where it has been recorded may be part of its native range. It occurs in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in coastal waters, the Baltic Sea (type locality), some European river drainages such as the Weser, Danube, Thames, and Tisza, and even in Lake Balaton, Hungary (Hasle 1978, Kiss et al. 1984, Kiss and Padisak 1990, Mills et al. 1993, Shevchenko et al. 2003).


Map Key
This map only depicts Great Lakes introductions.

 
Great Lakes Nonindigenous Occurrences: Contricribra guillardii occurred in Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie for the first time in 1973 (Mills et al. 1993).


Table 1. Great Lakes region nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state/province, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Conticribra guillardii are found here.

State/ProvinceFirst ObservedLast ObservedTotal HUCs with observations†HUCs with observations†
OH197319731Lake Erie

Table last updated 5/1/2024

† Populations may not be currently present.


Ecology: Contricribra guillardii occurs at a broad range of salinities (4-35%o), typically grows best above 8‰ salinity, and is at highest density at 18-20‰ salinity (Trigueros and Orive 2000). The concentration of C. guillardii  in freshwater regions is typically relatively low, but it represented 95% of phytoplankton (by volume) in a reservoir in Great Britain (Hasle 1978). In Urdaibai Estuary, Spain, this species blooms from March to November but is mostly considered a spring and summer bloomer. It has reached the highest concentrations in this water body at 21°C but has also been recorded there at water temperatures ranging from 7–24.5°C (Trigueros and Orive 2000, 2001,Trigueros et al. 2000). It is capable of sexual reproduction (Armbrust and 2001).


Means of Introduction: Contricribra guillardii was very likely introduced to the Great Lakes basin via ballast water (Mills et al. 1993).


Status: Established where recorded.


Great Lakes Impacts:
Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Environmental

 

There is little or no evidence to support that Contricribra guillardii has significant environmental impacts in the Great Lakes.
Realized:
Contricribra guillardii has been recorded at abundances reaching 95% of the diatom community in locations outside of the Great Lakes, although it is more typically less abundant in freshwater (Hasle 1978). In the Great Lakes, C. guillardii has only been recorded once (Sandusky Bay, OH), and the abundance of this sample compared to the rest of the phytoplankton was not recorded (Hasle (1978).

There is little or no evidence to support that Contricribra guillardii has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.

There is little or no evidence to support that Contricribra guillardii has significant beneficial effects in the Great Lakes.


Management:  

Regulations (pertaining to the Great Lakes region)
There are no known regulations for this species.

Note: Check federal, state/provincial, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Control
Biological
There are no known biological control methods for this species.

Physical
There are no known physical control methods for this species.

Chemical
Contricribra guillardii is a brackish water species. Therefore, the reduction of pollution and nutrient run-off could decrease the viable habitat for C. guillardii.

Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.


Remarks: It should be noted that early slides from 19th century Lake Erie are not well preserved and cannot be used conclude whether or not C. guillardii was present at that time (Hasle 1978).

In 1958, Guillard isolated three diatom clones from an estuary (3-H), slope water (7-15), and open ocean region (13-1). They were all greatly studied and considered to be different forms of C. pseudonana. However, it turns out that clone 7-15 is identical to C. guillardii from brackish water. Clone 3-H is still considered to be C. pseudonana, and clone 13-1 is considered to be a third species (Hasle 1982).

 


References (click for full reference list)


Other Resources:
Author: Kipp, R.M., M. McCarthy, and A. Fusaro


Contributing Agencies:
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Revision Date: 9/12/2019


Citation for this information:
Kipp, R.M., M. McCarthy, and A. Fusaro, 2024, Conticribra guillardii (Hasle) K. Stachura-Suchoples & D.M. Williams: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatLakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species_ID=1690&Potential=N&Type=0&HUCNumber=DGreatLakes, Revision Date: 9/12/2019, Access Date: 5/1/2024

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.