Diatoms

This group is composed of unicellular golden brown algae. They are primary producers in the ocean meaning they undergo photosynthesis using sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce organic matter and oxygen which we breathe. About 70% are marine. They live primarily in the photic zone ( top 100 meters of the ocean). They range in size from 1- 1000um. Each diatom is composed of a 2 part external skeleton of opaline silica