Binary Masks of Concentric Rings as a Method to Approximate Identification of Diatoms Using Images

Eduardo Gessel Pacheco-Venegas,Isabel Israde-Alcantara,Josue Alvarez-Borrego

doi:10.1109/access.2020.3013240

Eduardo Gessel Pacheco-Venegas, Isabel Israde-Alcantara + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.3013240

Copy DOI

Abstract

Diatoms are currently being used in different fields, and their application as bioindicators is one of their main benefits. Their identification is carried out by specialists, the main difficulty being the wide variety of existing species and the great similarity between some of them. In recent years attempts have been made to create an automatic identification system with the collaboration of experts in areas of pattern recognition. In this research we analyzed the use of binary masks of rings in images as a method to automatically identify diatoms, or render an approximative identification. Among the advantages of the proposed method is its invariance regarding the different positions in which the diatoms can be found. Invariance to illumination changes is achieved by means of different transforms, such as the power law transform. The image databases used to develop the algorithms were diatom images taken from samples collected at springs in Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, at the San Lazaro basin, Baja California Sur, Mexico and from the public image database of ADIAC. In morphological and textural descriptors, the background of the image must be eliminated in order to classify the diatoms, whereas in the proposed methodology this is not necessary. The obtained results reach over than 90% even when the diatoms in the images are broken.

Highlights

Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) are single-celled, microscopic algae, their main characteristic being their silicified cell wall
Considering to the multiple applications that diatoms have at present, there is a need to optimize the identification process and increase its degree of reliability
In this article we used different diatom images to analyze the potential of using binary masks with concentric rings as a method for the automatic identification of diatoms

Summary

Introduction

Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) are single-celled, microscopic algae, their main characteristic being their silicified cell wall. It is estimated that there are at least 100,000 different species [1], [2]. New descriptions and reclassifications have been made through the use of electron microscopy techniques, optical microscopy remains predominant for their identification. Diatoms are increasingly being used as ecological indicators in lotic and lacustrine systems under the EU Water Framework Directive. Some advantages that can be mentioned concerning other bioindicator organisms are the following [3], [4]: The associate editor coordinating the review of this manuscript and approving it for publication was Joewono Widjaja. 1) They are present in most aquatic system, permitting comparative studies between different regions. In contrast to other organisms, diatoms are preserved over time

Methods

Results

Conclusion