Journal article
Diatoms of low-alkalinity lakes in the Northeastern United States
Special Publication - Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Vol.18
14 Apr 2000
Abstract
Diatoms, in addition to being important components of aquatic ecosystems, are valuable ecological indicators. In lakes, diatoms accrue in sediments over time, providing a lasting record of response to changing environmental conditions. Data from analysis of this record can be used to address a variety of environmental issues, including lake acidification, eutrophication and climate change. Successful use of diatoms to assess ecological conditions requires that taxa be identified correctly and that their ecological characteristics be known. This publication aims to provide information to help meet both objectives. It contains photomicrographs and ecological data for diatom taxa found in sediment samples collected from 116 lakes in the Adirondack Park, northern New York. Because many of these diatom taxa are relatively widespread, however, the taxonomic and ecological information is applicable to low-alkalinity lakes throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. There are 37 plates with 887 light and 12 SEM photographs depicting 292 of the 405 taxa found in the samples. Thirteen taxa are described as new in addition to one new combination. Tables present data on lake location, morphometry, and water chemistry characteristics. In addition, for the 207 taxa which occurred in samples from five or more lakes, ecological optima and tolerance are presented for pH, acid neutralizing capacity, total aluminum, dissolved organic carbon, and total phosphorus. This publication documents the taxonomy used by diatomists in the PIRLA project (Paleoecological Investigation of Recent Lake Acidification), and also provides taxonomic guidance and ecological data for future studies of low-alkalinity lakes.
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Details
- Title
- Diatoms of low-alkalinity lakes in the Northeastern United States
- Creators
- Keith E. Camburn - West Mecklenburg High School Charlotte, NC USA United StatesDonald F. Charles - Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia USA United States
- Publication Details
- Special Publication - Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Vol.18
- Publisher
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
- Number of pages
- 152
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Identifiers
- 991021463543704721