Word: diatome
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Dates: during 1941-1941
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...Diatoms are the grass of the waters-the major source of energy and sustenance for marine life. A few thousandths of an inch across, the diatom's jewel-like silica case encloses a drop of protoplasm. In it chlorophyll magically manufactures organic matter out of sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. As this photosynthesis proceeds, diatoms multiply by splitting. Though each diatom is invisible, they outweigh in volume and importance all other sea plants combined, including seaweeds which grow as big as oaks...
...single species of diatom, Allen found, rarely held the lead in one spot for more than ten days. The species vary greatly. Though all contain vital green chlorophyll, some diatoms and dinoflagellates are brown or yellow or red-whence the Red Sea. Other diatoms sometimes make the sea stink. In fact, diatoms probably cause the universal "fishy" taste and smell of sea creatures...
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