Diatoms are unicellular organisms that lives in most of environments with some water content. Their ecological demands are in some cases specific, therefore they are widely used as ecological as well as paleoecological indicators. Although large number of diatom studies are focused to diatom ecology, diatom systematics (basis of the paleoecological, i.e. paleoclimatical studies) the relationship between diatom assemblage and ecological characteristic is not straightforward and further studying is needed. By parcipitating at 20. Diatom Symposium I have found that diatom science will extend to genetic studies and also nanotechnological usage.

In Institute of Inorganic Chemistry we produce diatom analysis mainly of lake (Baikal Lake, Aral Sea) but also riverine sediments (Morava floodplain basin) with paleoecological interpretations and combine this traditional method with inorganic analysis (determination of cation exchange capacity and both phase and chemical composition).

On this website You will find in a month more information about diatom species as well as diatom slide preparation.