Proposals for a terminology for diatom sexual reproduction, auxospores and resting stages

Abstract

The past few decades have brought about a significant expansion in our understanding of the diatom life cycle, particularly its sexual part. Presented here is a set of proposals for the terminology of processes and structures associated with sexual reproduction and for the resting stages of diatoms, some of which have at times been confused with each other. The proposals fill the void present in widely used publications offering standardized terminology related to diatom frustule micro-architecture.