Diatom algae, Campylodiscus

Credit: POWER AND SYRED/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption: Diatoms. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of the diatom Campylodiscus hibernicus. The diatoms are a distinctive group of single-celled algae containing about 10,000 species. They form a large part of the plankton at the base of the marine and freshwater food chains. The characteristic feature of diatoms is their intricately patterned, glass- like cell wall, or frustule, which is impregnated with silica. The frustule consists of 2 halves which fit together like the lid & bottom of a box. It is often decorated with rows of tiny holes, known as striae, which are arranged either radially or on the 2 sides of a central axis. Magnification: x160 at 6x4.5cm size.

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Keywords: alga, algae, algal, botany, campylodiscus hibernicus, diatom, diatoms, frustule, marine diatom, nature, phytoplankton, plankton, plant, scanning electron micrograph, sem

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