Diatom - Wikipedia A diatom (Neo-Latin diatoma) [a] is any member of a large group comprising several genera of algae, specifically microalgae, found in the oceans, waterways and soils of the world Living diatoms make up a significant portion of Earth's biomass
Diatom | Description, Characteristics, Reproduction | Britannica diatom, (class Bacillariophyceae), any member of the algal class Bacillariophyceae (division Chromophyta), with about 16,000 species found in sediments or attached to solid substances in all the waters of Earth
What are Diatoms? - Diatoms of North America Diatoms are algae that live in houses made of glass They are the only organism on the planet with cell walls composed of transparent, opaline silica Diatom cell walls are ornamented by intricate and striking patterns of silica Why should I care?
DiatomBase The diatoms are an amazing group of organisms, part of the Stremenopile lineage of life These photosynthetic unicells (ranging from 1 µm to over 1 mm in size) have chlorophylls a and c, and a complement of accessory pigments that include xanthophylls and carotenoids, making the living cells golden-brown in color
Diatom - Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary A diatom is a unicellular eukaryotic alga characterized by having a siliceous covering and a symmetrical body Diatoms are mostly aquatic, being found in fresh, brackish, and saltwater
4. 4: Diatoms - Biology LibreTexts Diatoms are an incredibly diverse group of unicellular organisms containing anywhere from 20,000 to 2 million species These organisms are unicellular and surrounded by a frustule, a silica shell made from two distinct valves that enclose the plasma membrane
Diatoms | Animals | Monterey Bay Aquarium Diatoms, one of the largest groups of organisms on Earth, are unicellular algae Scientists estimate there could be as many as 2 million species of diatoms — new species are discovered every year Diatoms can be solitary or live in colonies that might be shaped like long chains, stars or zigzags
Diatoms, unicellular photosynthetic algae – Inanimate Life Diatoms are unicellular, and like most (but not all!) unicellular organisms, they are small, generally 20-100 um in size, and only visible to the naked eye as dust They have a cell wall with a unique (in biological terms) composition, being composed of silica dioxide
Diatom - Definition, Reproduction and Location | Biology Dictionary Diatoms (pictured below) are a common type of unicellular phytoplankton that likely originated around the Jurassic period Diatoms can form colonies characterized by particular shapes (e g , stars, fans, and ribbons) and are encapsulated by a unique cell wall composed of silica, termed a frustule