Interactions

    Within, the base interaction for all Diatoms specie is that they function as the base of their food webs. This is because they are extremely prevalent and efficient primary producers, contributing an estimated 20 to 25 percent of the World’s net primary production every year. There are very few species that for symbiosis with other organism though, but they do hold a large amount of human interests in various ways.
 
    When it comes to symbiosis Diatoms they are in short supply. However, some species do form a unique symbiosis with polar sponges. The species are almost always pennale, benthonic, species of diatoms. The symbiosis consists of two parts: a mutualism and a parasitism. The two parts will vary on time of year and the location in which the sponge is growing. If the diatom has enough light it will grow without any problems and will produce extracellular sugars that the sponge can feed on, well the sponge provide protection to the diatom. Well if there isn’t enough light present then the diatom begins to consume the sponge to prevent itself from going into a vegetative state. For the diatom becoming a parasite allows it to just continuing to grow without any problems but it also requires energy to consume the sponge that it is living in. So if enough light is present it will follow through and photosynthesis because it is what is best for it. When it all comes down to it, the sponge doesn’t matter to the diatom, they produce the extracellular sugars anyway, with the sponge though, there is less threat of predation and no risk of being forced into an unproductive vegetative state. (Also in Nutrition)
 
    Then as human interests go they have very diverse possibilities.

    The most common at uses by humans at this point in time is in the form of diatomaceous earth, which is fossilized diatoms, which is used as: a dietary supplement, filtration agents, used in paints to causes it to sparkle, some abrasives and some more.

    Recently though diatoms have expanded beyond diatomaceous earth for humans to use them. At Oregon State University and Portland State University diatoms have been used to increases the likely hood that light would be trapped in solar panels. Possibly increasing a new form of solar panel effectively by three times. The new solar panels worked by having a photosensitive dye on it along with some titanium on it. The dye when hit my light releases electrons that the titanium takes up to great an electrical current.  They researchers first effectively replaced silicon dioxide with titanium dioxide causing the frustules to be made out of titanium instead of silicon. Then the organic material is removed from the diatoms and the titanium frustules are in the panel with the dye and the idea is that the frustules would increase the likely hood that the light would come in contact with the dye because the frustules could also trap the light. This did work and did increase the panels effectively by roughly three times. With the use of diatoms it allows cheaper more effective solar cells compared to the previously used silicon cells that were also environmentally unsound.

    Humans are also interested in diatoms because of the possibility of using them as a fuel source. It is starting to be put into development to use diatoms to produce a sustainable carbon natural energy source. This oil can be used to run cars and power plants without taking up a large amount of space or using food crops as an energy source. With a little genetic engineering they could be modified to secrete the oils much as they do with many polysaccharides. This way they oil that they produce can be harvested daily. This way they don’t have to be destroyed to harvest the oil allowing the process to occur extremely quickly and at a constant rate. (For more on diatoms as an energy source http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/sep252009/748.pdf)
 
    Only the beginning of the realization of what diatoms can be used for.

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