Diatoms of North America
Tiia Luostarinen
Taxon Contributor
Doctoral Researcher Environmental Change Research Unit, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
A gem of the Finnish language: “Missä piilevät piilevät?” Translation “Where are the diatoms hiding?”
The focus of my studies has been on Arctic sea-ice proxies, including diatoms, dinoflagellate cysts and highly branched isoprenoid lipids. Although I should be equally as excited about all of the proxies, diatoms are probably my favourite one – not because they would be the best proxy (that is up for debate), but because the intricate beauty of their valves, their complexity and the endless discussions we can have on their taxonomy and ecology.
My background is in geology and palaeoceanography, but during my PhD studies I have also ventured onto studying the seasonality of the diatom production and their habitat sources. As a recent graduate I do not know exactly where my research path will take me next, but I do hope I get to work with diatom ecology and proxy development.