Needle diatom
Nitzschia
Nitzschia species are tiny microscopic organisms called diatoms that live as part of the phytoplankton.
Video
About this species
Species identity
Nitzschia species are tiny microscopic organisms called diatoms that live as part of the phytoplankton. They are usually long and thin in shape, with cell walls made of a glass-like material that has fine patterns. Nitzschia species are commonly found attached to marine plants, including seagrasses and algae, in the shallow, high-salinity waters around the Florida Keys.
Where it lives
Nitzschia species are found worldwide, including in tropical and subtropical regions such as the Florida Keys. They occur in coastal waters, lagoons, and shallow marine environments.
Some species live freely in the water column, while others grow on sediments, seagrass, or other surfaces.
They are common in sunlit waters where nutrients are available.
Role in the ecosystem
Needle diatom helps explain how marine food webs function through its ecological role, habitat use, and connection to broader ecosystem change.
Scientific reference
Citation
Ocean Literacy Connections
This resource can be explored through Ocean biodiversity, Ocean makes life possible and One ocean, many features.
- How do ocean habitats support so many forms of life and interaction?
- How does the ocean help make Earth habitable?
- How do different ocean places belong to one connected system?
Explore and connect
Open the primary producer view and compare this species with related marine life.
