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The Diatom World pp 293–311Cite as

The Importance of Scale in Understanding the Natural History of Diatom Communities

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Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 19))

Abstract

Diatom communities can be composed of hundreds of different species with unique needs and abilities. Although there is a considerable size range amongst species, diatoms are relatively small when considering the size of sympatric aquatic organisms and especially considering the size of humans that study diatom ecology. To get a clearer understanding of environmental factors important in structuring diatom communities, it is important to measure variables at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. An examination of the ecology of diatom communities from various microhabitats (epipsammon, epipelon, epiphyton, epilithon, and subaerial) can be enhanced by appreciating their microbial nature and by the application of appropriate tools and approaches.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA

    Rex L. Lowe

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  1. Jerusalem, The Hebrew University Of, P.O.Box 1132, Efrat, 90435, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

  2. , Dept. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Museum of Natural, Henderson Bldg., 15th & Broadway, Boulder, 80309, Colorado, USA

    Patrick Kociolek

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Lowe, R.L. (2011). The Importance of Scale in Understanding the Natural History of Diatom Communities. In: Seckbach, J., Kociolek, P. (eds) The Diatom World. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 19. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1327-7_13

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