Diatom Community Composition Research Articles

Analysis of factors controlling epilithic diatom community compositions in subarctic lakes of Finnish Lapland

Analysis of factors controlling epilithic diatom community compositions in subarctic lakes of Finnish Lapland

Experimental toxicity and bioaccumulation of cadmium in freshwater periphytic diatoms in relation with biofilm maturity

A study was undertaken to examine cadmium accumulation in freshwater biofilm, its effects on biofilm development and on diatom community structure in laboratory experimental conditions. A suspension of a biofilm originated from the Riou-Mort River (South West France) was inoculated into three experimental units containing clean glass substrates under laboratory conditions. Settling and already developed biofilms were exposed to a Cd concentration of 100 µg L − 1 . Metal accumulation (total and intracellular metal content) in biofilms, dry weight and ash-free dry mass, diatom cell density and diatom community composition were analyzed. Both total and intracellular Cd accumulated by the biofilm throughout the experiment increased with duration of metal exposure. Biofilms in the course of maturation were showed higher Cd content and less effective development than settled biofilms. However diatom communities in younger biofilms exposed to Cd increased their tolerance to Cd by a highly significant development of Nitzschia palea. In contrast, Cd exposure had different effect in installed biofilm and taxonomic composition. These results indicate that mature biofilm may limit Cd accumulation into its architecture and protect diatom communities from the effects of metals.

Epiphytic diatoms as flood indicators

The hydroecology of floodplain lakes is strongly regulated by flood events. The threat of climate warming and increasing human activities requires development of scientific methods to quantify changes in the frequency of short-lived flood events, because they remain difficult to identify using conventional paleolimnological and monitoring approaches. We developed an approach to detect floods in sediment records by comparing the abundance and composition of epiphytic diatom communities in flooded and non-flooded ponds of the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD), Canada, that grew on submerged macrophytes (Potamogeton zosteriformis, P.perfoliatus) and an artificial substrate (polypropylene sheets) during the open-water season of 2005. Analysis of similarity tests showed that epiphytic diatom community composition differs significantly between flooded and non-flooded ponds. After accounting for the “pond effect,” paired comparisons of the three substrates determined that variation in community composition between the artificial substrate and macrophytes was similar to that between the macrophyte taxa. Similarity percentage analysis identified diatom taxa that discriminate between flooded and non-flooded ponds. The relative abundance of ‘strong flood indicator taxa’ was used to construct an event-scale flood record spanning the past 180 years using analyses of sedimentary diatom assemblages from a closed-drainage pond (PAD 5). Results were verified by close agreement with an independent paleoflood record from a nearby flood-prone oxbow pond (PAD 54) and historical records. Comparison of epiphytic diatoms in flooded and non-flooded lakes in this study provides a promising approach to detect changes in flood frequency, and may have applications for reconstructing other pulse-type disturbances such as hurricanes and pollutant spills.

Heavy metal pollution downstream the abandoned Coval da Mó mine (Portugal) and associated effects on epilithic diatom communities

This study examined trace-element concentrations in 39 sediment samples collected in the vicinity of the abandoned Coval da Mó mine, and evaluated the anthropogenic contaminant effects and other environmental variables in the taxonomic composition, structure and morphological changes of benthic diatom communities. The results show the existence of extremely high contamination in Pb, Zn and Cd (the mean values exceed the background values 376, 96 and 19 times, respectively) on the first 2.5 km in the water flow direction. Also Co, Cu, Mn and Ni are present in high concentrations. Dilution by relatively uncontaminated sediment reduces metal concentrations downstream, but Zn concentrations increase downstream Fílvida stream, as a result of several factors such as sewage and agriculture. To evaluate the biological effects caused by Pb, Cd and Zn, three sites were selected. In the stressed environment, near the mining area (C232), diatoms were extremely rare, however there was a slight recovery at site C79 located 2 km downstream. Fragilaria capucina var. rumpens, Fragilaria cf. crotonensis and Achnanthidium minutissimum showed abnormal valves which may be related to high levels of metals. Six km downstream, in Fílvida stream (C85), an increase in species richness and diversity was registered while the relative percentage of valve teratologies was lower. In the absence of OM, nutrients and low pH the diatom community patterns must be attributed to the metal concentration at some sites. Considering that community diversity can be affected by abiotic and biotic variables and valve deformations are caused by a small number of variables, basically metals, and acid conditions, we consider the presence of teratologies as an indication of the presence of metals.

Linking diatom community structure to pesticide input as evaluated through a spatial contamination potential (Phytopixal): A case study in the Neste river system (South-West France)

A large-scale field survey was undertaken in the Neste system (South-West France) to investigate the impact of pesticide inputs on the structure of riverine benthic diatom communities. A total of 18 sites in the “Coteaux de Gascogne” study area were sampled during periods of pesticide use over two consecutive years (2005–2006). The typology of the diatoms collected was determined using artificial neural networks generating patterns in diatom community composition that indicated the species influenced by pesticide inputs, combined with organic pollution. Small, pioneer species of the Achnanthales group were more frequent in the pesticide-contaminated assemblages, whereas slower colonizers were more often found in the sites where disturbance was lower. The Phytopixal approach, a means to assess the spatial contamination potential, provided valuable information about pesticide exposure and was a successful means of discriminating diatom assemblages, suggesting that a global estimate of pesticide pollution risk, although rough, would be more appropriate and more representative than sporadic pesticide analyses.

Use of multivariate analyses to investigate the contribution of metal pollution to diatom species composition: search for the most appropriate cases and explanatory variables

The aim of this study was to elucidate how the spatial scale and the set of variables included influence our ability to detect the effects of different types of pollution on the biota. Using variance partitioning analysis, we assessed the individual importance of a set of environmental factors (eutrophication and organic pollution) versus metal level pollution on the community structure of diatom assemblages at different spatial scales. At regional scale, environmental factors did not explain more of the variance compared to the watershed study. The results of the watershed scale field survey indicate that diatom community composition was influenced by low metal concentrations, but this pattern was only observed by the inclusion of biofilm metal concentration data. We recommend the analysis of metal traces in the water phase and the biota (fluvial biofilms) as well as the use of the Diffusive Gradient in Thin films (DGT) technique to characterize low metal level pollution in freshwater systems.

Does the Columbia River plume influence phytoplankton community structure along the Washington and Oregon coasts?

As part of the River Influences on Shelf Ecosystems (RISE) program, we examined the influence of the Columbia River plume on the composition and biomass of phytoplankton communities on the Washington and Oregon coasts. We determined the taxonomic composition, size structure, and biomass of phytoplankton assemblages in near‐surface shelf waters during four 3‐week cruises in spring and/or summer of 2004–2006. As the Columbia plume is very dynamic, the influence of the plume was examined in three ways. Two comparisons of the entire data set were made: (1) a geographical comparison of the Washington, Oregon, and Columbia River mouth regions based on latitude and (2) a “plume” versus “nonplume” comparison based on salinity. A third comparison focused on samples taken in and outside of three specific plumes under different upwelling/downwelling conditions. In whole data set comparisons, there were no significant differences in chlorophyll, carbon biomass, or diatom community structure between regions or between plume and nonplume samples. However, within some cruises there were regional and plume differences in chlorophyll and biomass. Diatom community composition differed between cruises, but within a cruise it was similar across regions and in plume/nonplume samples, indicating there was no unique plume community. On finer time and space scales, differences in community structure as well as biomass were evident between samples in and outside of specific plumes. Over broader scales, the Columbia plume acts to make coastal phytoplankton communities more homogeneous. Specific impacts will depend on the history of upwelling and nutrient status of the coastal waters which the plume encounters.

COASTAL DIATOM-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BRACKISH BALTIC SEA(1).

High-quality calibration data sets are required when diatom assemblages are used for monitoring ecological change or reconstructing palaeo-environments. The quality of such data sets can be validated, in addition to other criteria, by the percentage of significant unimodal species responses as a measure of the length of an environmental gradient. This study presents diatom-environment relationships analyzed from a robust data set of diatom communities living on submerged stones along a 2,000 km long coastline in the Baltic Sea area, including 524 samples taken at 135 sites and covering a salinity gradient from 0.4 to 11.4. Altogether, 487 diatom taxa belonging to 102 genera were recorded. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis showed that salinity was the overriding environmental factor regulating diatom community composition, while exposure to wave action and nutrient concentrations were of secondary importance. Modeling the abundances of the 58 most common diatom taxa yielded significant relationships with salinity for 57 taxa. Twenty-three taxa showing monotonic responses were species with optimum distributions in freshwater or marine waters. Thirty-four taxa showing unimodal responses were brackish-water species with maximum distributions at different salinities. Separate analyses for small (cell biovolume <1,000 μm(3) ) and large (≥1,000 μm(3) ) taxa yielded similar results. In previous studies along shorter salinity gradients, large and small epilithic diatom taxa responded differently. From our large data, we conclude that counts of large diatom taxa alone seem sufficient for indicating salinity changes in coastal environments with high precision.

Comparison of benthic algal composition developed on different substrata in Lake Donghu, Wuhan

测定了富营养化武汉东湖中的底栖藻类在不同人工基质上建群发展为成熟群落的生物量(Chl.a),定性分析了人工和天然基质上成熟硅藻群落的种类组成和结构特征.通过比较建群期间底栖藻类在花岗岩、玻璃、塑料(PVC)和木板4种不同人工基质上的生物量变化,发现底栖藻类在PVC上的生物量峰值(Chl.a,71.0μg/cm²)明显高于其它人工基质,说明PVC是最适合底栖藻类生长的人工基质.分析发现人工基质花岗岩上底栖硅藻群落的种类组成、主要优势种类、群落的相似性指数、多样性指数都和天然基质上的硅藻群落是高度相似的,显示该人工基质能够代表天然基质上的藻类群落,表明花岗岩应该是以底栖藻类作指示生物监测和评价水质的理想人工基质.;Biomass (Chl.a) of benthic algae colonized and developed mature community on different artificial substrata was determined in eutrophic lake Donghu, and species composed and structure characteristic of mature diatom communities on artificial and natural substratum were analysed qualitatively. Biomass variance of benthic algae was compared on four different artificial substratum, granite stone, glass, plastic (PVC) and pine wood during the colonization period, and the peak biomass of benthic algae (Chl.a, 71.0μg/cm²) on PVC was significantly higher than that of the other artificial substrata, which showed PVC was the most suitable artificial substratum for benthic algae. Species composition, dominant species, similarity index and diversity index of benthic diatom communities showed a relatively high degree of consistency between natural and granite artificial samplers, which suggested granite should be the most favourable artificial substratum with benthic algae used as indicatory biology that monitored and evaluated water quality.

Validation of ecological status concepts in UK rivers using historic diatom samples

We assessed the feasibility of using herbarium specimens to validate reference conditions in the UK by comparing diatom community composition of river sites with both recent and historic diatom samples. The question of substrate specificity was addressed by comparing epilithon (stone-derived) and epiphyton (plant-derived) samples from a number of rivers. No significant differences were found between the Trophic Diatom Index (TDI), species richness, species diversity, and percentage of motile valves between paired diatom samples (epilithic and epiphytic) from contemporary samples. Significant differences were recorded between a number of indices derived from analysis of the historic diatom samples on plant material sampled pre-1930 compared with diatoms from stones collected post-1990 from the same river location. The TDI, mean species richness, and species diversity and percentage of motile valves and nutrient tolerant valves were all significantly greater in the contemporary samples ( p ≤ 0.05). The percentage of nutrient sensitive valves was significantly lower in the contemporary samples ( p ≤ 0.05). The relative abundance of Achnanthidium minutissimum and Cocconeis placentula var. lineata was significantly greater on the herbarium material compared to matched contemporary samples. Calculated values for the TDI (43 ± 3) expected at reference conditions were similar to the observed TDI values derived from herbarium material (44 ± 12) showing no significant deviation in ecological status.

Hemispheric‐scale patterns of climate‐related shifts in planktonic diatoms from North American and European lakes

AbstractA synthesis of over 200 diatom‐based paleolimnological records from nonacidified/nonenriched lakes reveals remarkably similar taxon‐specific shifts across the Northern Hemisphere since the 19th century. Our data indicate that these diatom shifts occurred in conjunction with changes in freshwater habitat structure and quality, which, in turn, we link to hemispheric warming trends. Significant increases in the relative abundances of planktonic Cyclotella taxa (P&lt;0.01) were concurrent with sharp declines in both heavily silicified Aulacoseira taxa (P&lt;0.01) and benthic Fragilaria taxa (P&lt;0.01). We demonstrate that this trend is not limited to Arctic and alpine environments, but that lakes at temperate latitudes are now showing similar ecological changes. As expected, the onset of biological responses to warming occurred significantly earlier (P&lt;0.05) in climatically sensitive Arctic regions (median age=ad 1870) compared with temperate regions (median age=ad 1970). In a detailed paleolimnological case study, we report strong relationships (P&lt;0.005) between sedimentary diatom data from Whitefish Bay, Lake of the Woods (Ontario, Canada), and long‐term changes in air temperature and ice‐out records. Other potential environmental factors, such as atmospheric nitrogen deposition, could not explain our observations. These data provide clear evidence that unparalleled warming over the last few decades resulted in substantial increases in the length of the ice‐free period that, similar to 19th century changes in high‐latitude lakes, likely triggered a reorganization of diatom community composition. We show that many nonacidified, nutrient‐poor, freshwater ecosystems throughout the Northern Hemisphere have crossed important climatically induced ecological thresholds. These findings are worrisome, as the ecological changes that we report at both mid‐ and high‐latitude sites have occurred with increases in mean annual air temperature that are less than half of what is projected for these regions over the next half century.

Seasonal variations in the fouling diatom community structure from a monsoon influenced tropical estuary

Seasonal variations in the fouling diatom community from a monsoon influenced tropical estuary were investigated. The community composition did not differ significantly between stainless steel and polystyrene substrata due to dominance by Navicula spp. The experimental evidence suggests that Amphora, which is a dominant fouling diatom in temperate waters, ultimately dominates the community in tropical regions when conditions are favourable. These observations reveal that a faster onset of macrofouling interferes with the microfouling community wherein the faster recruiters that have a higher abundance in ambient waters, dominate the community. Seasonal variations were observed in the fouling diatom community. Navicula delicatula dominated during the post-monsoon and tychopelagic diatoms (Melosira and Odontella) were observed during the monsoon. Low diatom abundance was recorded during the pre-monsoon season. The results indicate that although the fouling diatom community composition does not vary between substrata, there is a seasonal change in the community depending on the physical, chemical and biological interactions.

Nutrient effects on intertidal community: from bacteria to invertebrates

This study investigated the impacts of nutrient enrichment on intertidal biofilm micro- bial communities and on larval metamorphosis of invertebrates. We modulated the nutrient levels in the water column during biofilm development and examined the resulting biofilms for bacterial and diatom community composition using 2 DNA fingerprinting techniques and microscopic examina- tion, respectively. Results of both terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses indicated that the nutrient enrichment treatment altered the biofilm bacterial communities relative to the control. Biofilms that had different microbial compositions were tested for their effects on larval metamorphosis of the polychaete Hydroides elegans, the barnacle Balanus amphitrite, and the slipper limpet Crepidula onyx. We showed that nutrient enrichment in the water column effectively changed the biofilm composition in ways that increased its inductiveness for larval metamorphosis of C. onyx and B. amphitrite, but not of H. elegans. This study highlights the apparent importance of nutrient enrichment in influencing the intertidal biofilm composition directly and the invertebrates indirectly.

Diatom community response to multiple scales of Holocene climate variability in a small lake on Victoria Island, NWT, Canada

A lake sediment core spanning 9900 years, collected from a small lake on western Victoria Island, NWT, Canada, provides a high-resolution record of diatom community dynamics over the Holocene. Ten radiocarbon dates and 210Pb dating provided the core chronology. Loss-on-ignition (LOI), magnetic susceptibility, biogenic silica content, and diatom concentrations provided information on changes in the sedimentary environment. LOI gradually increased over the Holocene whereas magnetic susceptibility showed an inverse trend. Biogenic silica content showed three distinct peaks spaced approximately 3000 years apart. Major shifts in diatom assemblages occurred at 8100–8000, 5800–5700, and 3800–3500calyrBP. There is evidence of diatom community response to centennial-scale variations such as the ‘Medieval Warm Period’ (∼1000–700calyrBP), ‘Little Ice Age’ (∼800–150calyrBP) and recent warming. Although recent changes in diatom community composition, productivity, and species richness are apparent they were surpassed at other periods throughout the Holocene. Variations of the taxa within the genera Staurosira, Pseudostaurosira, Fragilaria, and Staurosirella, usually combined into one genus in Arctic lake sediment studies, suggest these taxa provide useful insight into paleonvironmental questions.

Effects of climate, fire and vegetation development on Holocene changes in total organic carbon concentration in three boreal forest lakes in northern Sweden

Abstract. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), diatoms, pollen, charcoal, loss-on-ignition (LOI), and nutrient elements in lake sediments were used to assess important factors controlling Holocene changes in the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration, pCO2, color and pH of lake water in three boreal forest lakes in northern Sweden. The results suggest that mire formation, fire frequency and humidity are the most important forcing factors on millennial timescales. Mires produce humic acids that become available to the lakes, whereas fires may reduce the pool of carbon in the catchments, and humidity controls the transportation of allochthonous carbon into the lakes. Vegetation development and temperature as sole factors are of minor importance for the TOC concentrations in these lakes on a millennial timescale. Two of the sites indicate that liming and possibly fish introduction and rotenone treatment in recent time has led to increased TOC, color and pH in the lake water, and changed the diatom community composition to an assemblage that has never been present before. Given the predicted climate change scenario that suggests a more humid climate, expanding mires and less frequent fires, our paleolimnological data suggest that TOC concentrations can be expected to increase in boreal forest lakes in the future. Since super-saturation and emission of CO2 from lakes is correlated to the TOC concentration of lake water, higher TOC concentrations may lead to increased emission of CO2 from lakes to the atmosphere.

Biological effects of repeated fish introductions in a formerly fishless lake: Diamond Lake, Oregon, USA

Biological responses to a formerly fi shless lake in the Cascade Range, Oregon (USA) were assessed through monitoring of recent changes and paleolimnological techniques to assess earlier changes. We used un- published fi sheries reports, sediment cores, and available published and unpublished water quality data to evaluate changes to the lake. Diamond Lake has undergone four periods of fiintroductions in the 20 th century. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were annually released from 1910-2006, except for 1949 and 1954. Tui chub (Gila bicolor), an omnivorous cyprinid, were introduced in the late 1930s and the late 1980s, presumably as discarded live bait. Diamond Lake was treated with rotenone in 1954 which successfully eradicated the tui chub. The introductions of trout caused relatively modest changes in water quality and lake biota, whereas the introductions of tui chub caused major increases in cyanobacteria, changes in diatom community composition, reduction in transparency, increases in the proportion of rotifers, major reduction in benthic standing crop, and virtual elimination of amphipods, gas- tropods, and other large-bodied invertebrates. The unintended biomanipulations demonstrate the importance of an omnivorous cyprinid in promoting a series of biological responses throughout the lake food web.

A palaeolimnological record of diatom-community dynamics and late-Holocene climatic changes from Prescott Island, Nunavut, central Canadian Arctic

Palaeolimnological analyses from Lake PW03, a small, dilute lake on crystalline bedrock on Prescott Island, Nunavut, Canada (73°07′ N, 96°41′ W, 243 m a.s.l.), provide a sensitive record of the impacts of Holocene climatic change on diatom communities. A high-resolution sequence from 3500 cal. BP to present indicates that a significant change in diatom assemblages takes place at 2300 cal. BP, when alkaliphilous fragilarioids and planktonic taxa are replaced by benthic, epiphytic and acidophilous diatoms. These changes coincide with the onset of neoglacial cooling and likely reflect more persistent ice-cover and associated acidification of lake water. Maximum diatom species richness occurs during this period of transition. Dense bryophyte communities in the littoral zone provide habitats to sustain diatom production even under the cooler conditions following 2300 cal. BP. The concentration of diatom valves declines at 500 cal. BP, coincident with cooling at the time of the `Little Ice Age', and minor changes in species composition take place at that time. The sediments deposited over the past 150 years show modest increases in fragilarioids and planktonic diatoms, in response to a longer ice-free season under a warmer climate. Diatom valve production increases significantly in these recent sediments but increases in diversity are relatively small. Diatom diversity, production and the species composition of diatom communities do not change simultaneously in response to climatic changes.

Holocene diatom biostratigraphy of the SW Gulf of Gdańsk, Southern Baltic Sea (part II)

Abstract The diatom records of two sediment cores taken in the SW part of the Gulf of Gdańsk indicate paleoenvironmental variability in the last three stages of formation of the Baltic Sea: the Mastogloia, the Littorina and the Post-Littorina. Diatom community compositions of the cores show the influence of several factors on past environmental conditions of the study area: (1) regional salinity changes, (2) changes of the Vistula River inflow, and (3) sedimentary processes connected with the Hel Peninsula development.

Evaluating diatom community composition in the absence of marked limnological gradients in the high Arctic: a surface sediment calibration set from Cornwallis Island (Nunavut, Canada)

Fossil diatom assemblages preserved within the sedimentary record in Arctic lakes provide the potential to reconstruct past changes in important limnological variables. During the summers of 1992 and 1993, we examined previously unstudied freshwater ecosystems on Cornwallis Island, Arctic Canada, with the specific objectives of (1) documenting the limnology and modern diatom assemblages from this region, and (2) determining which environmental variables most influence diatom species distributions. The Cornwallis Island study sites displayed the least amount of variance in measured water chemistry variables in comparison to nearly all of our labs’ previous freshwater surveys in the Arctic. The small limnological gradients precluded the development of a statistically robust diatom inference model, but perhaps more importantly, allowed us to explore variations in diatom composition in the absence of marked variations in water chemistry. Diatom species turnover was minimal, with the most common diatom taxa being Achnanthidium minutissima, Nitzschia perminuta, N. frustulum, with lesser percent abundances of Chaemaepinnularia soehrensis, Navicula chiarae, Psammothidium marginulata, and A. kryophila. A small number of study sites differed from the majority with respect to water chemistry (e.g., coastal sites with high specific conductivities) and habitat availability (e.g., ephemeral ponds with extensive moss habitats), and these sites had markedly different diatom assemblages. These data reinforce previous observations that water chemistry and other climate-related factors are the primary environmental controls influencing diatom distributions at high latitudes.

Benthic diatom community composition in three regions of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Despite their ecological importance, very little is known about the taxonomy and ecology of benthic diatoms in coral-reef ecosystems. Diatom densities and community compositions were investigated in three distinct regions of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR): (a) Wet Tropics (WT), (b) Princess Charlotte Bay (PCB), and (c) the Outer Shelf (OS). About 209 taxa were observed in the GBR sediments studied, with an average abundance of 2.55 × 10^6 cells ml^−1 in the upper 1 cm of sediment. Total diatom abundances were about twice as high in inshore reefs of PCB and WT compared with OS reefs. A redundancy analysis (RDA) of diatom composition clearly grouped the three regions separately but showed little influence of grain size, nitrogen and organic carbon content of the sediments. The only distinct correlates were inorganic carbon and the distance to the mainland associated with OS communities. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) of diatom community composition revealed significant differences between all three regions. Indicator values showed that most highly abundant taxa occurred in all regions. However, several taxa were clearly identified as characteristic of particular regions. It is hypothesised that variations in nutrient and light availability are the most likely explanation for the observed differences in community composition.