A diatom (Neo-Latin diatoma) [a] is any member of a large group comprising several genera of algae, specifically microalgae, found in the oceans, waterways and soils of the world. Living diatoms make …

3 days ago · diatom, (class Bacillariophyceae), any member of the algal class Bacillariophyceae (division Chromophyta), with about 16,000 species found in sediments or attached to solid …

Diatoms are algae that live in houses made of glass. They are the only organism on the planet with cell walls composed of transparent, opaline silica, which forms intricate and striking patterns. Why should …

Jul 25, 2025 · Diatoms are microscopic, single-celled algae found in nearly every aquatic environment on Earth, from oceans and freshwater lakes to moist soils. These abundant organisms, often …

6 days ago · Diatoms are found in marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems, inhabiting a wide range of environmental conditions. Because they are found in almost any place that has, or has had, …

Apr 9, 2024 · A diatom is a tiny, single-celled algae with a hard shell made of silica, found in oceans, waterways, and soil. They play a crucial role in oxygen production, nutrient cycling, and the food web …

Dec 22, 2025 · Diatoms are a type of single-celled algae that have cell walls made of silica (glass). They are found in almost all aquatic habitats including lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and the ocean.

Diatom is the common name for a major group of unicellular or (less commonly) colonial algae comprising the protist taxon Bacillariophyceae (or Bacillariophyta), characterized by unique cell walls …

Diatoms are unicellular organisms within the phylum Bacillariophyta, characterized by a bipartite silica shell called a frustule. They possess chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and c, enabling oxygenic …

Diatoms are single-celled algae belonging to the group of eukaryotic phytoplankton that have existed for >180 million years. Present in many areas of the world, they are particularly widespread at high …