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Diatom details Trivia Quiz

Diatoms are extremely valuable members of the environment and contribute both to the food chain and the carbon chain. See how much you know about them.

A multiple-choice quiz by satguru. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
satguru

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
244,191

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1961

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Diatoms are algae, but what other classification can apply to them? Hint

Nekton

Zooplankton

Phytoplankton

Meroplankton

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the main form of nutrition for diatoms? Hint

Plant material

Microorganisms

Photosynthesis

Water solutes

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Question 3 of 10

3. Diatoms can move.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. Diatoms are single celled organisms.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the main feature of a diatom's shape? Hint

Symmetry

Diamond

Branching

Tubular

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Question 6 of 10

6. How do diatoms reproduce? Hint

Binary fission

Hermaphrodite within an individual

Sexually between individuals

Binary fission and sexually

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Question 7 of 10

7. How would you be most likely to see diatoms with the naked eye? Hint

You can never see them with the naked eye

Colonies on the seabed

Coating a rock or hard surface

Swimming in schools

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is a diatom's skeleton called? Hint

Shell

Frustule

Cover

Exoscutum

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Question 9 of 10

9. Where can you find diatoms in the wild? Hint

Fresh water

Almost anywhere with moisture

Sea water

On plants

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. You can clean your teeth with diatoms.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Diatoms are algae, but what other classification can apply to them?

Answer: Phytoplankton

The general term plankton refers to aquatic life which does not swim independently but drifts with the current. Nekton are any aquatic life which swim independently. Within plankton there is the animal and plant/algae divisions, zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively, and meroplankton refers to plankton which is only part of a temporary stage of development such as a larva.

2. What is the main form of nutrition for diatoms?

Answer: Photosynthesis

Like most plants, the main way diatoms survive is through photosynthesis and water.

3. Diatoms can move.

Answer: True

Though most literally 'go with the flow', being moved by their watery environment, some are capable of creeping along their surfaces.

4. Diatoms are single celled organisms.

Answer: True

Even though they appear to be complex, each diatom only contains one cell.

5. What is the main feature of a diatom's shape?

Answer: Symmetry

Despite an amazing range of shapes often almost as complex as snowflakes, they all display either a circular symmetry called 'centrate' or a binary symmetry called 'pennate'. Pennate usually prefer fresh water and centrate salt.

6. How do diatoms reproduce?

Answer: Binary fission and sexually

Diatoms maintain their survival rates by being able to do both, splitting a number of times until they run out of cellular material, and then being able to reproduce with each other.

7. How would you be most likely to see diatoms with the naked eye?

Answer: Coating a rock or hard surface

As diatoms form groups, often joining together in colonies, they form visible patches at times, but only when sticking to a hard surface like a rock or shell. There you'd see and feel a brownish slime and with a microscope would reveal thousands of diatoms within.

8. What is a diatom's skeleton called?

Answer: Frustule

Though it is both a shell and a cover it has its own name. Exoscutum means "outer shield" in Latin but I invented it as a word.

9. Where can you find diatoms in the wild?

Answer: Almost anywhere with moisture

Diatoms don't need a lot to survive, basically light and water. They like salt and fresh water, and also live in any moist land areas and in soil.

10. You can clean your teeth with diatoms.

Answer: True

Diatoms may go back as far as the very early Pre-Cambrian period, thus are widely found as fossils. Diatomaceous earth, which forms a chalky substance, is widely used as a cleaning agent, including being added to toothpaste. So next time you clean your teeth you may be using fossils millions of years old.

Source: Author satguru

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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