Question

Diatoms are also called ‘pearls of ocean’. Why? What is diatomaceous earth?

Answer 1

Diatoms come under the kingdom Protista and belong to Chrysophyceae. They are one of the unique organisms. They have distinct cell walls and walls are indestructible. There is the sight of some ornamentation and sculpture. They prepare food not only for them, but also for other lives in the ocean. In phytoplankton, they are constituting a dominant group. They support productive fisheries in coastal waters.

Complete answer:
In the marine environment, diatoms are the significant producers. So, they are called ‘pearls of ocean’. Diatoms’ walls are made up of cellulose impregnated by silica. They deposit at the bottom of the water bodies. Their body is covered with a shell called frustule, which is siliceous. The frustules in the diatoms make them shine when light falls on them.
Diatoms leave behind a huge volume of cell deposits in their dwelling habitat. The accumulation is known as diatomaceous earth, which happened over billions of years in the earth. The substance is gritty and is used in polishing. In addition, it is also used to filtrate syrups and oils. It is an accumulation of the skeleton of diatoms as they are resistant to decay as they are mainly made up of silica.
In addition, diatoms synthesize long-chain fatty acids and are significant sources of energy rich molecules in the entire food web consisting of zooplankton, aquatic insects, fishes and whales.

Note:
Diatoms are unicellular organisms. They are broadly scattered in the top layer of oceans. They are also found in moist places and freshwater environments. They can be found underneath plants. Since they are found in plenty, they serve as an indispensable part in the pelagic food chain. Either indirectly or directly, they act as a food source for most of the animals in the ocean.