Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Siliceous Components of the Diatom Cell Wall and Their Morphological Variation

  • Chapter
Silicon and Siliceous Structures in Biological Systems

Abstract

With few exceptions the diatom protoplast is enveloped by a cell wall comprising an organic component and a major part composed largely of silica. The siliceous component is called “the frustule,” and it is the elegant patterns in which the silica is deposited to form the frustule that have fascinated microscopists for more or less the entire history of microscopy. Furthermore, it is on the morphology of the acid-cleaned frustule that diatom classifications have been based, though it is unfortunate that other characters such as chromatophore number and morphology, nuclear position and behaviour have been neglected since the excellent studies of Lauterborn (1896) and Méreschkowsky (1901, 1903).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anonymous. 1975. Proposals for a standardization of diatom terminology and diagnoses. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 53:323–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiappino, M. L., and B. E. Volcani. 1977. Studies on the biochemistry and fine structure of silica shell formation in diatoms. VII. Sequential cell wall development in the pennate Navicula pelliculosa. Protoplasma, 93:205–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, R. M. 1971. The fine structure of the frustule of MeJosira varions C. A. Agardh. Br. Phycol. J., 6:175–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, R. M. 1974. The auxospore wall of the marine diatom Melosira nummu Joides (Dillw.) C.Ag. and related species. Br. Phycol. J., 9(1):9–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, R. M. 1975. The frustule of the initial cells of some species of the diatom genus Melosira C. Agardh. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 53:37–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, R. M. 1979a. Filament formation in the diatom genera Melosira C. A. Agardh and Paralia Heiberg. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 64:121–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, R. M. 1979b. Taxonomy and frustular structure of the marine centric diatom Paralia sulcata. J. Phycol., 15:200–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, R. M. 1981a. Valve formation and the fate of the silicalemma and plasmalemma. Protoplasma, 106:157–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, R. M. 1981b. Some considerations of size reduction in diatom cell walls. Nova Hedwigia, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, P. A. 1973a. Observations on the structure of some forms of Gomphonema parvulum Kütz. III. Frustule formation. J. Phycol., 9:353–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, P. A. 1973b. The morphology of the siliceous components of Didymosphaenia geminata (Lyngb.) M. Schm. Br. Phycol. J., 8:65–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desikachary, T. V. 1954. The structure of the areolae in diatoms. Rapp. Comm. Ville Congr. Intl., sect. 17:125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desikachary, T. V. 1957. Electron microscope studies on diatoms. J. R. Micr. Soc, 76:9–36.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drebes, G. 1977. Sexuality. In: D. Werner (ed.). The Biology of Diatoms. Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 250–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emisee, J. J., and W. H. Abbott. 1975. Binding of mineral gains by a species of Thalassiosira. Nova Hedwigia, Beih, 53:241–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geitler, L. 1963. Alle Schalenbildungen der Diatomeen treten als Folge von Zell-oder Kernteilungen auf. Ber. Dtsch. Bot. Ges., 75:393–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryxell, G. A. 1978. Chain forming diatoms: Three species of Chaetoceraceae. J. Phycol., 14:62–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fryxell, G. A., and W. I. Miller, III. 1978. Chain-forming diatoms: Three araphid species. Bacillaria, 1:113–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasle, G. R. 1975. Some living marine species of the diatom family Rhizosolen-iaceae. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 53:99–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendey, N. I. 1937. The plankton diatoms of the southern seas. Discovery Reports, 16:151–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendey, N. I. 1971. Electron microscope studies and the classification of diatoms. In: B. M. Funnel, and W. R. Riedel, (eds.). The Micropalaeontology of Oceans. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 625–631.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendey, N. I., and R. M. Crawford. 1977. Notes on the occurrence, distribution and fine structure of Druridgea compressa (West) Donkin. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 54:1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herth, W., and P. Zugenmaier. 1977. Ultrastructure of the chitin fibrils of the centric diatom Cyclotella cryptica. J. Ultrastructure Res., 61:230–239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hustedt, F. 1930. Die Kieselalgen Deutschlands, Österreichs und der Schweiz. In: L. Rabenhorst (ed.). Kryptogamenflora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, Leipzig, vol. 7, pp. 1–920.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hustedt, F. 1967. Zellteilungsmodus und Formwechsel bei Diatomeen. Nova Hedwigia, 13:397–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamatani, A. 1971. Physical and chemical characteristics of biogenous silica. Mar. Biol., 8:89–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lauterborn, R. 1896. Untersuchungen über Bau, Kernteilung und Bewegung der Diatomeen. W. Engelmann, Leipzig.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, J. C. 1961. The dissolution of silica from diatom walls. Geochim. Cos-mochim. Acta, 21:182–189.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, J. D. 1869. On the structure of the diatomaceous frustule and its genetic cycle. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 3:108.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlan, J., A. G. Mclnnes and M. Falk. 1965. Studies on the chitan (chitin: (poly-N-acetylglucosamine) fibres of the diatom Thalassiosira fluviatilis Hustedt. I. Production and isolation of chitan fibres. Can. J Bot., 43:707–713.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Méreschkowsky, C. 1901. Étude sur l’endochrome des diatomées. Mem. Acad. Sci. St. Petersb. ser. 8, vol. 6, pp. 1–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Méreschkowsky, C. 1902 Sur la classification des diatomées. Scr. Hort. Botan. Petrog., 18:87–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Méreschkowsky, C. 1903 Les types de l’endochrome ches les diatomées. Scr. Hort. Botan. Petrog., 21:107–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okuno, H. 1953. Electron microscopical study on fine structures of diatom frus-tules XL Bot Mag. Tokyo, 66:121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paddock, T. B. B., and P. A. Sims. 1977. A preliminary survey of the raphe structure of some advanced groups of diatoms (Epithemiaceae-Surirellaceae). Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 54:291–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfitzer, E. 1869. Öber Bau und Zellteilung der Diatomeen. Sber. niederrhein. Ges. Nat. u. Heilk., 26:86–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfitzer, E. 1871. Untersuchungen über Bau und Entwicklung der Bacillariaceen (Diatomeen). Botan. Abhandl. hrsg von J. Hanstein., 2:1–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickett-Heaps, J. D., K. L. McDonald and D. H. Tippit. 1975. Cell division in the pennate diatom Diatoma vulgare. Protoplasma, 86:205–242.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Proshkino-Lavrenko, A. I. et al. 1949. Diatomovyi Analiz, 2. Gosudartsvennoe Izdatelstvo Geologicheskoi Literatury, Moskva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, V. N. R., and T. V. Desikachary. 1970. Macdonald-Pfitzer hypothesis and cell size in diatoms. Nova Hedwigia, Beih. 31:485–493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reimann, B. E. F., J. C. Lewin and B. E. Volcani. 1966. Studies on the biochemistry and fine structure of silica shell formation in diatoms. II. The structure of the cell wall of Navicula pelliculosa (Bréb) Hilse. J. Phycol., 2:74–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Round, F. E. 1970. The delineation of the Genera Cyclotella and Stephanodiscus by light microscopy transmission and reflecting electron microscopy. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 31:583–604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Round, F. E. 1972. The formation of girdle, intercalary bands and septa in diatoms. Nova Hedwigia, 23:449–463.

    Google Scholar 

  • Round, F. E. 1978. The diatom genus Chrysanthemodiscus Mann. (Bacilla-riophyta). Phycologia, 17:157–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schutt, F. 1896. Bacillariales. In: A. Engler, and K. Prantl (eds.). Die Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien. Engelmann, Leipzig, pp. 31–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simonsen, R. 1972. Ideas for a more natural system of the centric diatoms. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 39:37–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simonsen, R. 1975. On the pseudonodulus of the centric diatoms, or Hemidis-caceae reconsidered. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 53:83–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoermer, E. F., H. S. Pankratz and C. C. Bowen. 1965. Fine structure of the diatom Amphipleura pellucida. II. Cytoplasmic fine structure and frustule formation. Amer. J. Bot., 52:1067–1078.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stosch, H. A. von. 1975. An amended terminology of the diatom girdle. Nova Hedwigia, Beih., 53:1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stosch, H. A. von., and K. Kowallik. 1969. Der von L. Geitler aufgestellte Satz über die Notwendigkeit einer Mitose für jede Schalenbildung von Diatomeen. Beobachtungen über die Reichweite und Öberlegungen zu seiner seilmechanischen Bedeutung. Österr. Bot. Z., 116:454–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tippitt, D. H., K. L. McDonald and J. D. Pickett-Heaps. 1975. Cell division in the centric diatom Melosira varions. Cytobiologie, 12:52–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallich, G. C. 1860. On the development and structure of the diatom valve. Trans. Microsc. Soc. Lond. N.S., 8:129–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, D. 1977. Introduction with a note on taxonomy. In: D. Werner, (ed.). The Biology of Diatoms. Blackwell, London, pp. 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. R. M. Crawford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut, 06117, USA

    Tracy L. Simpson

  2. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California, 92093, USA

    Benjamin E. Volcani

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1981 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Crawford, R.M. (1981). The Siliceous Components of the Diatom Cell Wall and Their Morphological Variation. In: Simpson, T.L., Volcani, B.E. (eds) Silicon and Siliceous Structures in Biological Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5944-2_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5944-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-5946-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5944-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation