Diatoms. Darkfield illuminated polarised light micrograph of a group of Cymbella sp. (oval), Gomphonema sp. (tube-shaped) and Fragilaria sp. diatoms.

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Diatoms. Darkfield illuminated polarised light micrograph of a group of Cymbella sp. (oval), Gomphonema sp. (tube-shaped) and Fragilaria sp. diatoms. Diatoms are single-celled photosynthetic algae, of which there are about 100,000 species. They have mineralised cell walls (frustules) that contain silica and provide protection and support. They form an important part of the plankton at the base of the marine and freshwater food chains. Magnification: x400, when printed 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 5136px × 3402px
Photo credit: © MAREK MIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, alga, algae, algal, aquatic, biological, biology, botanical, botany, cymbella, darkfield, diatom, diatoms, flora, fragilaria, frustule, gomphonema, illuminated, illumination, light, marine, micro-organism, micro-organisms, microbiological, microbiology, micrograph, microorganism, microorganisms, microscope, microscopic, microscopy, multiple, nature, photosynthetic, phytoplankton, plankton, planktonic, plant, plants, polarised, single-celled, sp., unicellular, wildlife