This book presents a wide-ranging introduction to the diatoms together with an illustrated description of over 250 genera. Diatoms are important as perhaps the commonest group of autotrophic plants on earth and are abundant in all waters and on soils and moist surfaces. The introduction describes the diatom cell in detail, the structure of the wall (often extremely beautiful in design), the cell contents and aspects of life cycle and cell division. The generic atlas section is the first account of diatom systematics since 1928 (Karsten in Engler and Prantl: Die Nauturlichen Pflanzenfamilien) and each generic description is accompanied by scanning electron micrographs to show the characteristic structure. Most of the latter have been prepared specially for this work from the authors' own collections. The Diatoms will be the standard reference work on the group for years to come and is an essential reference volume.

Table of contents

This atlas contains all 366 diatom species to have been recorded in the Channel Islands. Each diatom is illustrated and has information concerning where and when it was found and by whom. Basic ecological and taxonomic information is given along with with any comments or notes that are of local interest. As well a collecting and modernising diatom records from historical and contemporary sources, this atlas offers a basic introduction to diatom natural history and to their study within the Channel Islands. This guide will be of interest to botanists, microscopists and local natural historians as well as diatomists. Most of the species covered are also found in the UK and on the European continent and so the atlas part of the book may be of general use to amateur and professional researchers outside of the Channel Islands. Features of this book include: - All 366 species of diatom recorded from the Channel Islands. - Clear line drawings for every the species featured. - An introduction to the natural history of diatoms. - Marine, freshwater and brackish species. - A summary of all known historical diatom records. - Advice on diatom sample preparation.

This is a new and completely rewritten edition of the well-known text Microfossils (first published in 1980) covering all the major microfossil groups, with information on taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology and palaeoecology. particular attention is given to the uses of microfossils in environmental reconstruction and biostratigraphy numerous line and half-tone illustrations emphasis on practical applications of micropalaeontology only student-friendly micropaleontology text available