Diatoms: A microscopic alga is the foundation of our ocean’s food web – and critical to sustaining life on earth.
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From the shore to the deepest parts of the oceans, diatoms are present. Diatoms are a single-celled algae that forms the base of marine food chains. Zooplankton consume them, which are then eaten by fish, and then continue up the food chain. They are also responsible for producing 20-50 percent of the oxygen we breathe through the process of photosynthesis!
Did you know that diatom cell walls are made of silica, which is the same material as glass? These microscopic beings date back over 200 million years. Diatoms are so old that they aren’t quite classified as plants or animals.
You might even have a bag of Diatomaceous earth at home, which is made up of the silica houses that were once home to diatoms. This product is used in water filtration, insecticides, cat litter, potting soils, and so much more.
We have a lot to thank diatoms for, from the seafood we eat to the air we breathe. Although microscopic, they are essential to life on earth.
References
- Behrenfeld, M. J., K. H. Halsey, E. Boss, L. Karp-Boss, A. J. Milligan, and G. Peers. 2021. Thoughts on the evolution and ecological niche of diatoms. Ecological Monographs 91(3):e01457. 10.1002/ecm.1457
- Diatoms. Monterey Bay Aquarium. (n.d.). https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/diatoms
- Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Indicators: Sediment Diatoms. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-sediment-diatoms