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NATURE TALK: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE BEAUTIFUL THE MANY FACETS OF DIATOMS

  • Eco Hub @ Willamette Heritage Center 1313 Mill Street Southeast Salem, OR, 97301 United States (map)

What is the size of a dust mote, can filter water, and provides us with every fifth breath we breathe? Diatoms are tiny plants that build ornate glass shells out of silica. Nearly all are beneficial, but a very few are invasive or can threaten human health. Rob Kimmich will talk about the role of diatoms in the environment, their benefits, a toxin they can produce, and a particular species of diatom that has become a major nuisance in streams around the world.

Rob Kimmich is a member of the Native Plant Society of Oregon. He became interested in diatoms while studying botany in college. He started working with diatoms intensively during retirement, seven years ago. Besides his own collections, Rob moderates a Diatom Forum and contributes to Diatoms of the United States.

Cost: $5 suggested donation at the door | No registration or RSVP required | Open to the public

For more information, call 503-779-5227 or email info@StraubEnvironmentalCenter.org