The Diatomaceæ of Philadelphia and Vicinity

A concise yet richly illustrated survey of the microscopic world that thrives in the waterways of Philadelphia and its surroundings, this volume opens a window onto the delicate, glass‑like organisms known as diatoms. The author explains why these tiny architects matter—from their role in purifying water to their clues about past climates and geological layers—making the science feel relevant to anyone curious about the hidden life beneath a pond’s surface.

Drawing on extensive fieldwork along the Delaware River, the Schuylkill, and historic sites such as the old Duck Pond, the book catalogs both marine and freshwater species with meticulous accuracy. Over seven hundred hand‑drawn plates, all rendered at a uniform eight‑hundred‑times magnification, let listeners picture each intricate silica shell as the narrator walks through the author’s meticulous observations and the broader environmental story they tell.