New Method of Estimation of the Relative Area of Perforations on Valves of Centric Diatoms Using Sem Images on the Example of Minidisus Vodyanitskiyi Lyakh Et Bedoshvili

Abstract

The diatoms interact with the environment through the siliceous frustule. The total area of frustule perforations determines the ability of diatom to exchange nutrients, gases and other matters. The aim of the present study was to estimate the area of perforations on the valve surface of a centric diatom. In the paper we describe a method for the estimation of the area of perforations on a diatom valve using SEM images. The method is tested on valves of centric diatom Minidiscus vodyanitskiyi Lyakh et Bedoshvili. The results show that the total area of cribral pores is less than 5% of the total valve area. This value is consistent with the relative perforation of land plants leaves, which is less than 3%. We hypothesize that such small valve area occupied by perforations is usual for many other centric diatom species. To verify this hypothesis additional researches are necessary.

Epilithic Diatoms Diversity in The Reservoir of Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang

“…The most important feature is that diatoms can be present in all water surfaces, the samples collected from them can be maintained for a long time and can respond to environmental changes quickly (Tan, 2017). Nanopores in frustule can exchange gas, nutrients, and other metabolites (Lyakh, 2019). The diatom frustule can adjust the pH for CO2 absorption as a protection for the inside of the cell to connect with other cells in its survival (De Yuan, 2012).…”