Discostella pseudostelligera
(Hustedt) Houk and Klee, 1939
Common Name:
A centric diatom
Synonyms and Other Names:
Cyclotella pseudostelligera
Identification:
Discostella pseudostelligera varies greatly in morphology. It can display flat, slightly concave, or somewhat concentrically undulate valves. The valves’ central region may or may not display a ring of striae formed of very small pores. Silicification varies depending on silica content in the water. There may or may not be very short spines around the valve margins (Alfinito et al. 2001, Belcher et al. 1966, Lowe 1975, Scheffler and Morabito 2003). In Lake Michigan, cells are cylindrical in shape, have short spines around the valve margins, and display somewhat concentrically undulate valves. The finely striated region around the valve margins measures half or less of the valve radius. The central valve region typically exhibits short striae arranged concentrically around a single punctum, although it sometimes displays no ornamentation (Stoermer and Yang 1969).
Discostella pseudostelligera can range in diameter from 2.3–12 µm (Alfinito et al. 2001, Belcher et al. 1966, Lowe 1975, Scheffler and Morabito 2003). In Lake Michigan the diameter ranges from 5–9 µm (Stoermer and Yang 1969).
Size:
up to 12 microns
Native Range:
Unknown. Discostella pseudostelligera is widespread. It is known from Europe, Russia, the United States, Africa, and South America (Alfinito et al. 2001, Belcher et al. 1966, Czarnecki 1979, Eulin and Le Cohu 1998, Ferrario et al. 1989, Genkal 1977, Hustedt 1939, Mills et al. 1993, Scheffler and Morabito 2003, Wawrik 1977, Williams 1972).
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This map only depicts Great Lakes introductions.
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Great Lakes Nonindigenous Occurrences:
Discostella pseudostelligera was recorded for the first time in the 1930s from Lake Michigan and now also occurs in Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Superior and the Sandusky River, which drains into Lake Erie ( Lowe and Kline 1976, Mills et al. 1993, Stoermer and Ladewski 1976, Stoermer and Yang 1970, US EPA 2008).
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 Discostella pseudostelligera are found here.
Table last updated 4/23/2024
† Populations may not be currently present.
* HUCs are not listed for areas where the observation(s) cannot be approximated to a HUC (e.g. state centroids or Canadian provinces).
Ecology:
Discostella pseudostelligera is small and grows quickly. This species typically occurs in shallow, nutrient-enriched, well-ventilated, and often turbid aquatic habitats (Finney et al. 2000, Reynolds et al. 2002). In the Great Lakes it frequently occurs at river mouths (Stoermer and Ladewski 1976). Discostella pseudostelligera is typically considered pelagic, but it can be benthic, tychoplanktonic, epilithic, or epipelic. Discostella pseudostelligera grows best at temperatures of 6–19°C (Descamps-Julien and Gonzalez 2005, Stoermer and Ladewski 1976). In Arizona it outcompetes other species during periods of high light intensity (Czarnecki 1979, Eulin and Le Cohu 1998, Lim et al. 2001).
Means of Introduction:
Discostella pseudostelligera was very likely introduced in ballast water to the Great Lakes (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 pseudostelligera has significant environmental impacts in the Great Lakes.
Realized:
There are over 50 species of Discostella in the Great Lakes, but there is no known research indicating that there is any genetic interaction between D. pseudostelligera and native species. Additionally, while D. pseudostelligera is often found in locations that have elevated levels of nutrient pollution, it does not directly decrease water quality (Finney et al. 2000, Reynolds et al. 2002, Stoermer and Yang 1969, 1970, Stoermer and Ladewski 1976).
Potential:
In Arizona, D. pseudostelligera has been reported to outcompete other diatoms for light under high light intensity conditions. This has not been observed in the Great Lakes (Czarnecki 1979).
There is little or no evidence to support that Discostella pseudostelligera has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.
There is little or no evidence to support that Discostella pseudostelligera has significant beneficial effects in the Great Lakes.
Realized:
The appearance and increased abundance of D. pseudostelligera, along with other small planktonic diatoms, can be used as a historical indicator of pollution and changing water quality (Bere and Tundisi 2011, Lim et al. 2001, Moser et al. 2010, Pappas 2010).
Potential:
Discostella pseudostelligera has also been used in Arctic lakes as an indicator of climate change (Kiarst-Riddoch et al. 2005).
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
Reduction of pollution and nutrient run-off would decrease the viable habitat for D. pseudostelligera.
Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.
Remarks:
Discostella pseudostelligera has appeared in some alpine lakes in the Canadian Cordillera, where its presence is thought to indicate longer ice-free conditions and more stability in thermal stratification in recent years (Karst-Riddoch et al. 2005). Houk and Klee (2004) proposed the transfer of the Stelligeroid taxa of the genus Cyclotella to the new genus Discostella because of differences in characteristics that include marginal fultoportulae and the rimoportuale postioned between costae. There is some research that indicates that D. woltereckii is a eutrophic lake ecotype of D. pseudostelligera (R. Lowe, pers. comm.). There is not currently scientific consensus on this issue but the factsheets for D. pseudostelligera and D. woltereckii may eventually be combined.
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 pseudostelligera (Hustedt) Houk and Klee, 1939: 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=1672&Potential=N&Type=0&HUCNumber=DHuron, Revision Date: 9/12/2019, Access Date: 4/23/2024
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.