Diatoms, Sem
by Oliver Meckes EYE OF SCIENCE
Title
Diatoms, Sem
Artist
Oliver Meckes EYE OF SCIENCE
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Diatoms (Nitzschia sp., small specimen Glyphodesmis sp.) from a South Atlantic ocean deep sea probe. Diatoms are unicellular algae. The unique feature of diatom anatomy is that they are surrounded by a cell wall made of silica (hydrated silicon dioxide), called a frustule. Diatom morphology varies. Although the shape of the cell is typically circular, some cells may be triangular, square or elliptical. The cell itself consists of two halves, each containing an essentially flat plate, or valve and marginal connecting, or girdle band. One half, the hypotheca, is slightly smaller than the other half, the epitheca. Due to the rigid shell, the diatoms multiply through transverse division (hence the Greek name diatomein = to split). Diatoms occur in salt and fresh water, and are the main constituent of marine phytoplankton. They generate a large part of atmospheric oxygen. Large deposits of diatom shells are called kieselguhr, diatomaceous earth, or diatomite. Magnification 600x.
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May 19th, 2021
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