Diatom species composition and indices for determining the ecological status of coastal Mediterranean Spanish lakes

Abstract

Diatom indices have been used and tested mainly for assessing the ecological status of rivers and deep lakes, but there are scarce studies that determine their effectiveness in shallow lakes and in coastal Mediterranean lakes. This study evaluates the validity of several common diatom indices (SPI, BDI, CEC and TDIL) for the determination of the ecological quality of three coastal lakes (Valencia, Spain) and presents descriptions and ecological data of the main diatom species recorded. Diatom samples were collected from phytobenthos, both from epiphyton of the dominant submerged macrophytes and the sediment. The ecological status of the systems was determined according to different physico-chemical variables and was compared with the results obtained from epiphytic diatom communities. The results showed discrepancies among diatom indices and also with the state determined by the environmental variables. The effectiveness of the indices depended on the number of species assessed for each index with respect to the total species recorded and the suitability of the weight assigned to each species. The results reveal the need to gather more information about the composition and ecology of the diatoms and microalgae characteristic of coastal Mediterranean standing waters. This work contributes to their better knowledge.

Half a century of research on diatoms in athalassic habitats in central Poland

“…For Halamphora sydowii, we recommend the 4 th category. This species were also recorded in the brackish waters (Levkov 2009) and in the coastal Spanish lakes (Antón-Garrido et al 2013).…”

“…The hot springs in Kenya and New Zealand are an example of habitats also characterized by an increased concentration of chloride ions, however, a very high temperature was the factor that had the greatest influence on the dynamics of diatom assemblages in these habitats (Owen et al 2008). Saltwater ecosystems, such as lakes and springs, located in coastal zones are significantly different from those located inland, because the water chemistry at these sites is strongly associated with the sea or ocean (Starmach 1969;Aboal et al 1998;Novelo et al 2007;Lutyńska 2008;Antón-Garrido et al 2013).…”

“…For Fragilaria famelica, we suggest a transfer from the 2 nd to the 3 rd category. This species was recorded inter alia in alkaline waters with high mineralization in Mexico (Novelo et al 2007) and fresh to brackish waters of Spanish lakes (Antón-Garrido et al 2013). For Halamphora sydowii, we recommend the 4 th category.…”

Untitled

“…Existence of some organisms or disappearance can show long-term changes in water quality, while chemical parameters reflect instantaneous water quality (Barlas, 1995;Kazancı, Girgin, Dügel & Oğuzkurt, 1997;Güler, 2003). Benthic diatoms are one of the most important organisms for determining water quality in freshwater systems (Garrido, Romo, & Villena, 2013). Several diatom-based indices were developed and these indices have been used in a number of countries Lirika, Aleko, & Alqi, 2011;Bennion, Burgess, Juggins, Kelly, Reddihough, & Yallop, 2012;Lirika, Aleko, & Alqi, 2013 Kalyoncu and Barlas (1997).…”

Phytoplankton succession in an artificial, periodically drained small water body

“…Among diatoms Rhopalodia gibba and Amphora ovalis, i.e. species preferring basic water reaction and fertile waters, were recorded most frequently (vAn dAM 1994, antón-Garrido et al 2013.…”