Diatoms Species as Indicators of Ecosystem Disturbance - Essay Example

According to Stoermer and Eugene et al (38), although many species of the diatom family may still be unknown, current studies reveal approximately more than ten thousand species. Research backs this up by coming up with statistics that are the most prevalent in most marine setups. The key feature with diatoms is that they are used forensically to identify and differentiate different distinct species. The diatomic carapace is a blend of silica components (made up of organic carbon). The carapace composition involves the overlying epitheca and the underlying hypotheca. The two posterior side-to-side surfaces appear like lock-and-key apparatus. One unique diatom cell can be shielded in the carapace to protect it from harmful environmental factors which may terminate its life cycle. Diatom is known to have distinct features. The carapace for instance has flamboyant over-elaborate designs which clearly depict unique pores. These pores are crucial in that they allow efficient gaseous exchange within the diatom. They also allow an effective sense of the surrounding environment and rapid response to the changing systems within the water body.

Materials and methods
The diatom research analysis majored on carpenter Bayou water systems where samples of mud, mineral debris, and organic matter were collected dating to 2015, January. A plastic tube was vertically inserted into the mud to collect the samples. The main objective of this technique was to reduce the highest sand fraction and the lowest clay fraction so as to retain the diatom sample. To obtain the actual diatom cells, 1 gram of the sediment was poured via a sieve to clear any sediments. The purifying procedure was repeated thrice using 45, 90, and 125 micrometers blended with distilled water. The solute that remained in the sieve (mainly diatoms) was spread in a petri dish for four days. This was followed by sample transfer to slides fully labeled with the sample details (where the diatom samples were collected from). These details included the precise location, sample type, and dates of sampling. It was noted that minute sand and clay particles were still in the final sample but this did not complicate or affect the final results thresh hold or the overall experiment.

Results
The final data collected from this experiment revealed that the most prevalent species in carpenters Bayon included Navicula, Achananthes, Tabellaria, Nitzchilla, Grammatophora, Synedra, and Pinnularia. The samples from the experiment were taken after three days exposure of to the mud exposure to light and Navicula was found to be the most dominant diatom.         

Tara

Nutan

Duy

Carla and Gizela

top 2 cm

cm 2-4

cm 4-6

cm 6-8

Achnanthes

0

0

0

24

Achnatnthidum

2

8

0

0

Actinella

6

8

0

6

Actinoptychus

2

0

0

0

Bacteria

184

94

1

17

Coscinodiscus

25

0

0

36

Fragillaria

45

85

0

267

Gyrosigma

13

0

0

3

Licmophora

2

0

0

2

Melosira

28

0

0

48

Navicula

122

186

80

215

Pinnularia

6

45

0

162

Rhoicosphenia

10

0

2

24

Synedra

18

12

0

184

Tabellaria

7

6

0

9

Thalassiosira

164

35

37

23

Triceratops

2

2

14

2

636

481

134

998

Conclusion
Each diatom species has a unique range of key factors such as distinct PH, shape, and structure that can readily provide key information regarding the environmental setup the diatom samples were collected from. According to Stoermer and Eugene et al (57), This information is a backbone to environmental crime investigations and in analyzing environmental statistics.