Olive wedge diatom
Gomphonema olivaceum
The olive wedge diatom is a single-celled diatom primarily found in running and standing freshwater environments. Its cells are characteristically wedge-shaped in girdle view and club-shaped in valve view. As part of the periphyton, it colonizes hard substrates such as stones or wood, often forming brownish-olive, mucilaginous coatings.
Details
Oxygen production
Produces oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, contributing to the vitality of the benthos.
Habitat function
Colonizes hard substrates and stabilizes the biofilm through mucilage secretion.
Nutrient uptake
Absorbs phosphates and nitrates from the water and incorporates them into biomass.
Food source for
Zoobenthos, especially scrapers.
Human use
Use in biological water monitoring (bioindication).
Ecology
Ecological role
Important primary producer in aquatic systems; serves as a food source for benthic grazers.
Natural predators
Snails, mayfly larvae, caddisfly larvae, and other grazing invertebrates.
Competitor species
Other benthic diatoms such as Navicula species or filamentous green algae.
Ecosystem service
Oxygen production and nutrient sequestration in water bodies.
Threats
Excessive herbicide pollution and extreme acidification of water bodies.
Scientific profile
Protection & threats
Main threats
Water acidification (due to its alkaliphilous nature), extreme toxic pollution (herbicide input from agriculture), and massive morphological degradation of water body structure.