Diatoms - Life in glass houses Champions of photosynthesis, these unicellular organisms appeared at the time of dinosaurs.They produce a quarter of the oxygen we breathe.
Average chlorophyll concentration in the surface ocean (from mi-September 1997 to August 2007) from the ocean color sensor SeaWiFS (NASA). Subtropical gyres, in the center of the oceanic basins, are characterized by very low concentrations of chlorophyll a (dark blue) - Source : NASA's Earth Observatory (http:/earthobservatory.nasa.gov)
Embryos and larvae Drifting in the currents, embryos and larvae perpetuate the species and are food for multitudes.
Diatom genus Hemiaulus (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Instrumented buoy (Photo : David Luquet)
Squid larva(Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Rosette used to collect seawater samples during a scientific cruise in the South Pacific Ocean. Duringthe austral summer,the amount of chlorophyllais so low thatthe water becomesdeepblue,almostpurple. (Photo : Joséphine Ras)
