Diatoms


Fluorescence-microscopic photographs of diatoms. On the left, cells were illuminated with blue light that is absorbed by chlorophyll. The chlorophyll- containing chloroplasts show red fluorescence. In the middle, cell nuclei were stained with DAPI, and appear blue under UV light. On the right a combination of both excitation wavelengths was used for irridiation.
The Wadden Sea is an extreme environment: The tides cause rearrangements of sediment material, hot summer days cause salt- and light stress. However, diatoms are well-adapted to their habitat. Most of them carry out oxygenic photosynthesis. They possess the chlorophylls a and c, and fucoxanthin as the main carotenoid. The latter gives them their characteristic brown color. As they often get buried under sediment material, they must be able to migrate to the surface to perform photosynthesis.
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