Article contents
Fossil Continental Diatoms: Paleolimnology, Evolution, and Biochronology
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 July 2017
Extract
Diatoms are golden brown algae (class Bacillariophyceae) whose cellular contents are enclosed between two valves or shells of silica. They are classified into groups with radial symmetry (centric diatoms) and axial symmetry (pennate diatoms). The latter are subdivided as raphid and araphid diatoms according to the presence or absence of raphes (slit-like structures) that allow diatoms to move along firm surfaces. Many centric and some araphid diatoms are planktonic, maintained by turbulence in the limnetic region of a lake, whereas raphid diatoms live on the lake bottom or are attached to objects in the illuminated zone.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1995 Paleontological Society
References
- 6
- Cited by