Discostella woltereckii
Hustedt, 1942
Common Name:
A centric diatom
Synonyms and Other Names:
Cyclotella woltereckii, sometimes spelled C. woltereki, C. wolterekii, or C. wolterechi
Identification:
Cells of this species are cylindrical in side view and the valve diameter is greater than the longitudinal (pervalvar) axis. Valve morphology is variable, ranging from stellate to dichotomous. In the former, the central region of the valve is sharply delineated while in the latter it can be almost unapparent. Dichotomous valves typically display one distinct punctum (pore) or a hyaline (unornamented) area in the central region, while stellate valves typically display many puncta, one of which is larger, in the central region (Huebener 1999, Klee and Houk 1996). In the Great Lakes, cells occur singly and valves are somewhat undulate, typically with a sunken area in the middle. On the valve surface, striae vary in length and are arranged radially. The central valve region is usually around 1–2 µm across and generally exhibits one large punctum. Around the valve margins there are typically stout spines arranged randomly (Stoermer and Yang 1969).
Size:
<13 microns
Native Range:
Unknown. This species is widespread. It was originally described from Java but is also known from such countries as Germany (Huebener 1999), Hungary (Szabo et al. 2005), Iraq (Al-Kaisi 1974), Argentina (Echenique and Guerrero 2003), and Poland (Wojtal et al. 2005).
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This map only depicts Great Lakes introductions.
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Great Lakes Nonindigenous Occurrences:
Discostella woltereckii was originally recorded in Lake Michigan in 1964 (Mills et al. 1993, Stoermer and Yang 1969).
Ecology:
Discostella woltereckii occurs in meso-eutrophic to eutrophic conditions. It has been recorded from relatively alkaline water with pH of 7.8–8.1 and is known from fresh and marginally brackish waters. It is known to occur epiphytically (Al-Kaisi 1974, Huebener 1999, Szabo et al. 2005, Wojtal et al. 2005).
Means of Introduction:
Discostella woltereckii was very likely introduced to the Great Lakes in 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...
There is little or no evidence to support that Discostella woltereckii has significant environmental impacts in the Great Lakes.
Potential:
Discostella woltereckii occurs in meso-eutrophic to eutrophic conditions, reaching high densities in locations outside of the Great Lakes. As such, it has the potential to either out-compete native species, impact predator-prey relationships, or alter water quality under nutrient rich conditions (Wojtal et al. 2005). However, no known research has been conducted to investigate the specific impact of D. woltereckii on these environmental variables.
There is little or no evidence to support that Discostella woltereckii has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.
Potential:
Discostella woltereckii grows nonindigenously in artificial drainage systems in some locations outside of the Great Lakes, forming thick mats that could potentially clog drains and disrupt water transportation (Kaštovský et al. 2010). While this species is not currently a problem in the Great Lakes basin, in higher densities, it could pose a threat to the functionality of infrastructure.
There is little or no evidence to support that Discostella woltereckii 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 methods of control for this species.
Physical
There are no known physical methods of control for this species.
Chemical
There are no known chemical methods of control for this species.
Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.
Remarks:
Although ITIS cites Cyclotella woltereckii as the valid name for this species, the more recently updated AlgaeBase lists Discostella woltereckii as the currently accepted name (confirmed by taxonomic expert M. Guiry, pers. comm.) according to Houk and Klee (2004). Potentially cryptogenic.
References
(click for full reference list)
Author:
Kipp, R.M., M. McCarthy, and A. Fusaro
Contributing Agencies:
Revision Date:
9/12/2019
Citation for this information:
Kipp, R.M., M. McCarthy, and A. Fusaro, 2024, Discostella woltereckii Hustedt, 1942: 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=2706&Potential=N&Type=0&HUCNumber=DGreatLakes, Revision Date: 9/12/2019, Access Date: 5/2/2024
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.