Larval settlement in the fouling polychaete Hydroides elegans Haswell (1883) is mediated by natural biofilms, a complex consortium of marine bacteria, benthic diatoms, protozoa, fungi and adsorbed organic matter. Currently, the inductive effect of natural biofilms on larval settlement is attributed to the bacterial component. In this paper, we present results of an investigation of the diatom c...

We investigated whether 2 stream sampling protocols collected different diatom assemblages within sampling reaches and, consequently, influenced the outcome of bioassessment. We analyzed data collected at 71 sites by both reach-scale (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program [EMAP]) and targeted-habitat (US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] Science to Achieve Results [STAR]) sampling...

The macro-epibiotic communities of sea turtles have been subject to growing interest in recent years, yet their micro-epibiotic counterparts are almost entirely unknown. Here, we provide the first evidence that diatoms are epibionts for all seven extant species of sea turtle. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, we inspected superficial carapace or skin samples from a single representative of ea...

Diatoms constitute an important component of the fouling community. Although a lot of work has dealt with the fouling diatom community structure, work on the species interactions within the community is still meagre. In this regard, a study was carried out by transferring natural diatom biofilms into controlled conditions in order to understand the roles of nutrients, initial cell inoculum and ...

Seasonal variations in the fouling diatom community from a monsoon influenced tropical estuary were investigated. The community composition did not differ significantly between stainless steel and polystyrene substrata due to dominance by Navicula spp. The experimental evidence suggests that Amphora, which is a dominant fouling diatom in temperate waters, ultimately dominates the community in t...

Diatoms are unicellular microscopic algae found in practically any moist environment. Identification of diatom has application in many disciplines, including ecology, archaeology and forensic science. In recent years, the work has been undertaken for automatic identification of diatom. However, the diatom with circular shape has not yet been considered as the uttermost goal of the research. In ...

Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that encode for their own replication. Many studies have linked their expression to stress caused by environmental factors. Genome sequencing and EST libraries of the coastal diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum indicate that this organism has an active copia-like retrotransposon (Blackbeard), which is variably expressed under different culture condition...

The present chaotic state of diatom taxonomy presents both significant difficulties and large opportunities for paleolimnologists. Lack of complete and generally available taxonomic treatises and rapid and substantial changes in nomenclature make it necessary for persons using diatom populations to infer environmental conditions to become more deeply and directly involved in diatom systematics,...

We demonstrate the cultivation of diatom cells on a functionalized mica surface and the preparation of frustules on a mica surface by baking. Diatom cells were successfully grown on a mica surface treated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. After baking at 400 degrees C for 2 h, frustule structures without the organic components of the diatom cells were successfully observed by scanning electron...