The Invisible ABCs

Exploring the World of Microbes...

Letter d

Bacillaria

Habitat:

 

Bacillaria is a group of microorganisms that are linked together by ridges and grooves of their glass-like shells.  They live in the oceans.

 

Importance:

 

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

 

 

Classification:

 

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