Big Golden Pennate Diatom Rolls Along

This big [about 0.2-mm long] golden diatom was in a sample from a Heron's Head Park Salt Marsh Pond, San Francisco Bay. Shots were taken with a Swift FM-31 Field Microscope at 400X using a Nikon Coolpix 885 Digital Camera. Diatoms are algae in a glass case - the two shells that enclose a diatom are made of silicon. Algae are plants, so Diatoms get their energy and manufacture sugars from the sunlight and CO2. They also frequently move with a slow, but steady motion. Diatoms evolved at about the same time as mammals, so they are relative newcomers.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• science
• ecology
• diatom
• algae
• microscope
• pond

[WLanier]

It is moving under its on power. It has no flagella. As far as I know, no particular explanation of how it moves has been experimentally verified. One commonly-proposed explanation is that it actively pumps water through small pores in its silicon dioxide shells [called "valves"].

[jz165804]

Gyrosigma sp.

[WLanier]

Yes, I think it is a species of Gyrosigma. I wish I could nail it down to a species because I have found it in almost every San Francisco Bay salt marsh pond. It is a minority micro-community member, but occurs over a wide range of salinities.

[WLanier]

See my web site for details on lights for the Swift Field Microscope. I tried to put it here, but exceeded the allowed number of words.

[Melancholic2]

how is it moving just with the currents? or by branching out? or by flagella moving so fast we cant see?

[falleninlovecouk]

it looks like a gyrosigma acuminatum .. but im not sure . thanks for posting this video

[abrkdbr]

Very cool!!! I Think that is a Gyrosigma balticum because of the rafe insertion..I have found this diatom at many brackish water of south brazilians bay...at low densities too (sorry my english, it is very easy)

[jz165804]

It may also be Pleurosigma. Email me if you are interested in finding out exactly.

[Tocinator]

Amazing!

[BlakeAflatoxin]

This is GREAT STUFF!

Five fookin stars.

[WLanier]

To be exact, diatoms are algae and algae belong to the Kingdon Protoctista, not the Kingdom Plantae [view of Margulis and others, see Wikipedia]. The generic word "plants" is handy for critters that have chloroplasts and use sunlight to fix carbon dioxide.