Light micrograph of a marine diatom, Navicula The diatoms are a distinctive group of single- celled algae containing about 10,000 species. They f

---

Light micrograph of a marine diatom, Navicula The diatoms are a distinctive group of single- celled algae containing about 10,000 species. They form an important part of the plankton at the base of the marine & freshwater food chains. The characteristic feature of diatoms is their intricately patterned, glass-like cell wall, or frustule. The frustule consists of 2 halves which fit together like the lid & bottom of a box. The frustule is often decorated with rows of tiny holes, known as striae, which are arranged either radially or, as here, on the 2 sides of a central axis. Magnification: x300 at 35mm size.

---

Size: 3496px × 5101px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: alga, algae, algal, botany, diatom, diatoms, light, micrograph, nature, navicula, pennate, phytoplankton, plankton, plant, sp.