Silicifiers: The Glassy Creatures of the Ocean

Abstract

Silicon is one of the most abundant chemical elements in the universe. On Earth, it forms sediments, minerals, and rocks. In the ocean, silicon is found in a dissolved form that can be used by many organisms to grow. You probably know that humans use calcium to build their skeletons, but did you know that there are creatures capable of forming skeletons out of silicon? Organisms capable of capturing dissolved silicon from the environment and transforming it into glassy skeletons are called silicifiers. Silicifiers use a unique process called biosilicification to create their skeletons. In the marine ecosystem, silicifiers come in a surprising variety of shapes and sizes, and they include, among others, diatoms, rhizarians, and sponges. These three groups, so diverse and yet so similar, are essential to the health of the oceans.