The Invisible ABCs

Exploring the World of Microbes...

Letter D

Hemidiscus simplicissimus

Habitat:

 

Hemidiscus is a unicellular microbe that is shaped like orange segments.  It lives in warm water areas of the oceans.

 

Importance:

 

Hemidiscus is a microorganism that harvests its energy from sunlight using a process known as photosynthesis.  During photosynthesis, oxygen is released.  In addition, Hemidiscus and other photosynthetic microbes are the basis for the food chain in the ocean.

 

Classification:

 

Hemidiscus is a diatom, a group of photosynthetic organisms that live inside two glass-like (silica) plates.