Diatomilises

Diatomilises is a term used in some strands of marine science to describe the process by which diatom cells are broken down and their constituents released, or more broadly the disintegration of diatom biomass in aquatic environments. The phrase is not universally standardized and is often treated as synonymous with diatom lysis or diatom dissolution, depending on the context. It can refer to both cellular lysis and the downstream weathering of silica frustules.

Mechanisms of diatomilises include viral infection of diatoms, enzymatic degradation by bacteria or protists, and physical fragmentation by grazers or turbulence. During lytic events, organic matter such as pigments, lipids, and proteins is remineralized, while silica frustules may persist briefly or gradually dissolve, contributing to the silicate pool in sediments and water columns.

Ecological significance lies in its influence on nutrient cycling, particularly carbon and silicon, and on bloom dynamics. Diatomilises can terminate blooms, alter particulate organic matter composition, and affect carbon export pathways from the surface to deeper waters. The balance between preservation of frustules and their dissolution shapes sediment composition and silicon isotopic signatures over time.

Measurement and study of diatomilises employ microscopy, flow cytometry, pigment analysis, and chemical assays for dissolved silica and dissolved organic carbon. Molecular methods and experiments in culture or mesocosms help identify causal agents such as viruses or bacterial communities and clarify the conditions that favor diatomilises.

See also: diatom lysis, diatom bloom termination, silica cycle, viral lysis of phytoplankton.