Diatom encrusted algae

[btschumy]

This is a stack of 20 images taken though a 10x achromatic objective. I believe the filamentous algae is some species of Rhizoclonium. There is also a strand of Spirogyra in the field.

The Spirogyra was considerably below the plane of the Rhizoclonium and I'm impressed how the stacking brought it all together.

Can anyone help with the ID of the diatoms?

[IanW]

That's a very good photograph with good clarity . I can't help with identification I'm afraid.

[billbillt]

Great photo.. Fine detail and resolution.. I think you will need to present diatom photos at a much higher magnification to get any kind of ID...

BillT

[JimT]

No help with the ID but good image.

[KurtM]

Exmarine might be able to help with pennate forms, as he's much better at ID'ing living ones than the rest of us who spend rather too much time studying cleaned and mounted frustules, and maybe not so much on living specimens. But I can at least point out the myriad Cocconeis adhering to the substrate plant; they're the roundish-elliptical shapes you see in great numbers. Most interesting to see some of them in girdle view on the edges.

Very cool image! Be nice if you could "zoom in" a bit...

[btschumy]

Kurt,

Thanks for the Cocconeis ID. I had just assumed those were part of the plant, not realizing they were another diatom species.

I'll try another image zoomed in a bit in a day or so.

Bill

[actinophrys]

The other diatoms are Rhoicosphenia, named for their characteristic curved wedge shape. I think it's interesting where you found them; I've seen them in a few places but always associated with Cladophora, a close relative of Rhizoclonium.

[exmarine]

OK guys now for my penny worth, the algae looks like Oedogonium and the diatoms I would suggest are Gomphonema note the bottle shape to them, or a wedge.

[gekko]

Excellent image.