| Abstract: | A morphological study of resting spores in five marine planktonic diatom species using electron microscopy indicates that Bacteriastrum delicatulum Cleve and Leptocylindrus danicus Cleve spores bear little resemblance, to their vegetative cells. Detonula confervacea (Cleve) Gran and Stephanopyxis turris (Grev. & Arn.) Ralfs spores have several features in common with their vegetative cells, and Rhizosolenia setigera Brightwell lies between the two extremes. The function of resting spores in relation to diatom life cycles is briefly discussed. Spore formation may be a primitive characteristic in the life cycle and may no longer have significant survival value for the species. |
