Taxon Description (Wikipedia)
Diatoms (Greek:
(dia) = "through" +
(temnein) = "to cut", i.e., "cut in half") are a major group of eukaryotic colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons (e.g.
Fragillaria), fans (e.g.
Meridion), zigzags (e.g.
producers within the food chain. A characteristic feature of diatom cells is that they are encased within a unique cell wall made of Period. Diatom communities are a popular tool for monitoring environmental conditions, past and present, and are commonly used in studies of water quality. full article at Wikipedia
