Designates Aulacoseira newjerseyana as New Jersey State Diatom.

A5259

ASSEMBLY, No. 5259

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 15, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� ELLEN J. PARK

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman� SHAMA A. HAIDER

District 37 (Bergen)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates Aulacoseira newjerseyana as New Jersey
State Diatom.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
designating
Aulacoseira newjerseyana
as the New
Jersey State diatom, and supplementing chapter 9A of Title 52 of the Revised
Statutes.

Whereas,

Aulacoseira newjerseyana
is a diatom discovered by Dr. Mihaela D.
Enache, Dr. Marina G. Potapova, Dr. Sarah A. Spaulding, and Meredith Tyree
Polaskey in 2022; and

Whereas,

A diatom is a microscopic, single-celled algae found in most aquatic
environments on earth, including oceans, lakes, and rivers; and

Whereas,

Diatoms are characterized by their distinct cell walls known as frustules, which
are composed of hydrated silicon dioxide and give them a glass-like appearance;
and

Whereas,

Diatoms are one of the most diverse microorganisms on earth and scientists
estimate there are anywhere from 20,000�2 million different species, with
scientists discovering new species every year; and

Whereas,

Diatoms are one of the most important organisms for aquatic ecosystems; they
produce long-chain fatty acids which feed everything from zooplankton to fish
and whales; scientists estimate they produce 20�30 percent of all the oxygen
generated on earth; and they act as an indicator of the health of aquatic
systems due to their need for specific ranges of pH and salinity; and

Whereas,

Aulacoseira newjerseyana
is a freshwater centric diatom species found in
lakes located in the Highlands ecoregion of New Jersey; and

Whereas,

Aulacoseira newjerseyana
is characterized by its low mantle, unevenly
distributed mantle areolae, and a valve face covered by rounded areolae; and

Whereas,

It is important to bring awareness to the ecological importance of diatoms and
the crucial role they play in helping to maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems,
as well as to the scientists whose work led to the discovery of
Aulacoseira newjerseyana
;
and

Whereas,

It is altogether fitting and proper that
Aulacoseira newjerseyana
, a
diatom bearing the name of the State of New Jersey and reflecting the State�s
commitment to scientific discovery and environmental research, is designated as
the official diatom of the State of New Jersey; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.���
Aulacoseira newjerseyana

is designated as the New Jersey State Diatom.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill designates
Aulacoseira
newjerseyana
as the official diatom of the State of New Jersey.�
Aulacoseira
newjerseyana
was discovered by Dr. Mihaela D. Enache, Dr. Marina G.
Potapova, Dr. Sarah A. Spaulding, and Meredith Tyree Polaskey in 2022.

���� A diatom is a microscopic,
single-celled algae found in most aquatic environments on earth.� They are
characterized by their distinct cell walls known as frustules which are
composed of hydrated silicon dioxide and give them a glass-like appearance.�
Diatoms are one of the most diverse microorganisms on earth with scientists
estimating there are anywhere from 20,000�2 million different species.

����
Aulacoseira newjerseyana

is a freshwater centric diatom species found in lakes located in the Highlands
ecoregion of New Jersey.� It is characterized by its low mantle, unevenly
distributed mantle areolae, and a valve face covered by rounded areolae.

���� Despite their importance to
aquatic ecosystems, few people know of their existence.� Therefore, it is
fitting and proper that
Aulacoseira newjerseyana
, a diatom bearing the
name of and discovered in New Jersey, is designated as the official diatom of
the State of New Jersey.