Taxon Contributors
Contributors produce comprehensive documentation on diatoms, leading to consistent and correct taxonomy.
Diatoms of North America
We aim to provide accurate information on diatom morphology, nomenclature, ecology, and geographic distribution.
Our content is created by over 100 contributors, from students to expert taxonomists, guided by an Editorial Review Board.
Join our live Diatom Web Academy series, or listen to recorded presentations.
Become a taxon contributor Learn more
Diatoms of North America is a collaborative work in progress, growing and changing as science advances.
Taxa by Morphology
New to diatoms? Jump into diatom identification using the visual key.
Editorial Review Board
Using diatoms in assessment? Specify the use of Diatoms of North America in contracts and task agreements.
What are Diatoms?
Diatoms are single-celled algae that live nearly everywhere there is water - streams, ponds, lakes, oceans, and even soils.
For practitioners
Taxon
Identification Guide
Genera
Classification information, citations, links and species listings for 164 genera completed to date.
Species
Identification guides, original descriptions, citations, autecological information and more for 987 species and growing.
We encourage new contributors to submit taxon pages.
This project depends on many people to document the diverse diatom flora of streams, rivers, wetlands, lakes, springs, soils, estuaries and coastal zones.
Recent News & Projects
25 January 2021
Diatom Web Academy 2021
The Diatom Web Academy continues... Sessions are recorded and can be accessed for later viewing. You are invited to join us, wherever you may be,...
19 January 2021
WEBINAR: Looking for light - the role of light availability in shaping diatom assemblages
Description: Light can be a key driver of diatom assemblages, influencing overall cell densities, biovolumes, and diatom assemblage structure. Light...
05 January 2021
WEBINAR: Striving for consistency in the face of ecological diversity - a tale of two continents
Description: In a recent review, colleagues from Europe and the US compared the use of periphyton/phytobenthos for ecological assessment across the...
Diatoms of North America has been developed in part with the generous funding and support of US EPA, USGS, the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at University of Colorado Boulder and other organizations.
