Taxon Contributors
Contributors produce comprehensive documentation on diatoms, leading to consistent and correct taxonomy.
Registration is open for the Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms course, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, 18 May – 12 June, 2026
Registration is open for the Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms course, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, 18 May – 12 June, 2026
Registration is open for the Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms course, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, 18 May – 12 June, 2026
Registration is open for the Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms course, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, 18 May – 12 June, 2026
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 208 genera completed to date.
Species
Identification guides, original descriptions, citations, autecological information and more for 1134 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
04 March 2026
OPPORTUNITY: Coming together to isolate
DNA metabarcoding is transforming diatom-based environmental monitoring, yet its global application is currently hindered by significant ...
04 March 2026
OPPORTUNITY: Intensive field and laboratory course on diatoms
Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms Dates: 18 May – 12 June 2026 Instructors: David Burge (University of Minnesota, Science Museum of...
02 March 2026
OPPORTUNITY: Paul C. Silva student grants
Paul C. Silva worked at the University of California, Berkeley, and made important contributions to algal taxonomy and nomenclature throughout...
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.
