Diagram of a diatom. Cell division asexual reproduction. In turn each generation get smaller and smaller and to restore their size they must either sexually reproduce or create an entirely new frustule. Diatoms are photosynthetic organisms referred to as algae with a lengthdiameter of between 2 and graphs showing abundance of the diatom paralia sulcata in stratigraphic sections at the redtail and oyster localities niawiakum river 37 diagram of the diatoms are one of the largest and ecologically most significant groups of organisms on earth. A unique feature of diatom anatomy is that they are surrounded by a cell wall made of silica hydrated silicon dioxide called a frustule.
When the diatom cell size is less than half of the. Diatoms reproduce asexually by cell division to produce two daugther cells by mitosis. Diatoms have two distinct shapes. The cell has vesicles that increase the deposition of silica creating a new valve girdle band.
They are also one of the easiest to recognize. Diatom diagram posted on march 25 2011 by admin 3 1 2 significance of diatom adhesion figure 2 schematic of the assembly process to form compact monolayers diatom frustules geologic time scale diagram click to view larger version b axes of a pennate diatom apical valvar c transapical. They then must replace it with a new frustule that must fit into the old one. Diatoms are also used extensively in palaeoenvironmental studies particularly in palaeoceanography.
Diagram showing the diatom mobility using raphe. In this article we will discuss about 1. Characteristics of diatoms 3. When this happens each half of the new cell get one half of the frustule or shell.
Description of diatoms 2. Each daughter cell receives one valve and it is reproduced by furrowing. A few centric diatoms are radially symmetric while most pennate diatoms are broadly bilaterally symmetric.