Taxon Contributors
Contributors produce comprehensive documentation on diatoms, leading to consistent and correct taxonomy.
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 1132 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
16 February 2026
PUBLICATION: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Special Volume
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences contains papers in the areas of systematics, taxonomy, evolution, biogeography, and ecology. We...
myDiatoms.org
The goal of the myDiatoms project is to introduce students, naturalists, and anyone else interested in biodiversity to diatoms, a lineage of microbes...
12 February 2026
Diatom Web Academy 2026
Diatom Web Academy Spring Schedule 2026 We offer a series of live, online seminars. Join us and be part of the discussion! If you are not able to...
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.
