diatom
Silica-shelled plankton
A diatom is a microscopic single-celled alga with a rigid cell wall made of silica.
Diatoms are among the most abundant organisms on Earth, forming the base of aquatic food chains and producing a significant portion of the world's oxygen through photosynthesis.
Their silica shells accumulate in sediments to form diatomaceous earth, used in filtration and abrasives.
Silicon dioxide compound
- opalHydrated silica gemstone
- glassTransparent solid from sand
- biogenicProduced by organisms
- shellHard outer covering
skeleton · test · valve · girdle · pore · striae · ornament · dissolution
Primitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- protistUnicellular eukaryotic organism
- microalgaeMicroscopic aquatic photosynthetic organisms
cyanobacteria · dinoflagellate · chloroplast · photosynthesis · bloom · ooze · unicellular · colonial
Sediment of diatom remains
- diatomaceous earthSilica from fossilized microorganisms
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- paleoclimatePast geological climate conditions
core sample · Miocene · Cenozoic · preservation · proxy · paleoecology · microfossil
Small still body
- lakeEnclosed body of freshwater
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
- streamSteady continuous flow
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
bog · marsh · estuary · biofilm · benthic · planktonic · epiphytic · limnology
Separating solids from liquids
- diatomaceous earthSilica from fossilized microorganisms
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
- polishSmooth by rubbing
forensics · nanotechnology · biosensor · biofuel · aquaculture · toothpaste · dynamite · chromatography
silica
Silicon dioxide compound
shell · skeleton · test · valve · girdle · pore · striae · ornament · dissolution · precipitation
algae
Primitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- protistUnicellular eukaryotic organism
microalgae · cyanobacteria · dinoflagellate · chloroplast · photosynthesis · bloom · ooze · unicellular · colonial · pennate
diatomite
Sediment of diatom remains
- diatomaceous earthSilica from fossilized microorganisms
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
paleoclimate · core sample · Miocene · Cenozoic · preservation · proxy · paleoecology · microfossil
pond
Small still body
wetland · bog · marsh · estuary · biofilm · benthic · planktonic · epiphytic · limnology · eutrophication
filtration
Separating solids from liquids
- diatomaceous earthSilica from fossilized microorganisms
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
polish · forensics · nanotechnology · biosensor · biofuel · aquaculture · toothpaste · dynamite · chromatography · water treatment
- living thingsplants, animals, animal, creature, birds
- cellscells, blood cell, cell theory, nerve cell, red blood cell
- fossilsdinosaur bones, ammonite, amber, ammonites, fossils
- freshwater lifecatfish, trout, bass, salmon, frog
- algaealgae, green algae, chlorella, red algae, kelp
- eukaryotesanimals, animal, nucleus, fungi, plants
diatomblue whale
Largest mammal on Earth
elephant · giant sequoia · megafauna · whale · redwood
diatombacterium
Single-celled prokaryotic life
bacteria · prokaryote · archaea · cyanobacteria · archaeon