Diatoms of the genus Chaetoceros do not give up easily!
When the environment becomes too hostile — low light, lack of nutrients or other stresses — many species interrupt cell division and enter a stage of dormancy, known as the resting stage. Resting spores differ from vegetative cells in several ways: they change their morphology, thicken their silica wall, slow down their metabolism and accumulate reserve lipids.
These strategies enable them to survive for long periods, even years, in marine sediments. When conditions become favourable again, they “wake up” and give rise to new blooms.
As part of the CRIMAC project at the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, various species of diatoms of the genus Chaetoceros are being studied in experiments aimed at investigating their physiological, ecological and biotechnological potential.
These activities contribute to our knowledge of the diversity of Calabrian diatoms capable of forming resistance stages: a fundamental piece in exploring and enhancing the extraordinary marine biodiversity.
