what are diatoms and dinoflagellates

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Diatoms are a type of single-celled algae that have a hard silica shell and are found in both freshwater and marine environments. They are important for their photosynthetic role in the food chain and also play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle.

Dinoflagellates are another type of single-celled algae, found predominantly in marine environments. They are known for their ability to bioluminesce, or emit light, in response to external stimuli, and some species are responsible for harmful algal blooms, or "red tides," which can lead to fish kills and other negative effects on marine ecosystems.