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Daniela Sturm

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Micro images

Image title:

A mix of coccolithophores

Image description:

Coccolithophores are phytoplankton which cover themselves in calcium carbonate plates (liths). These plates eventually form part of the ocean sediment and after millions of years become structures like the white cliffs of Dover. This image taken using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) gives an impression of how coccolithophores are creating these incredible formations. We can see the large tube-shaped lopadoliths of Scyphosphaera apsteinii as well as the tiny round coccoliths of the bloom-forming Emiliania huxleyi. The pictured cells were grown in laboratory cultures.