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Structure and ecology of freshwater benthic diatom communities from Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2013

Kateřina Kopalová
Affiliation:
Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic Academy of Science of the Czech Republic, Institute of Botany, Section of Plant Ecology, Dukelská 135, 379 82 Třeboň, Czech Republic
Bart van de Vijver*
Affiliation:
National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Department of Bryophyta & Thallophyta, Domein van Bouchout, B-1860 Belgium University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
*
*corresponding author: vandevijver@br.fgov.be

Abstract

Diatom and water chemistry samples were collected from 49 lakes, pools and rivers on Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands) during the summer of 2009. A diverse diatom flora of 143 taxa was found. Fragilaria capucina s.l., Psammothidium papilio, Navicula dobrinatemniskovae and several Nitzschia taxa dominated the flora. The biogeographical analysis showed that more than 55% of all observed taxa presented a restricted Antarctic biogeographic distribution and only 30% had a cosmopolitan distribution, contrary to previously published data. Cluster analysis and Principal Components Analysis were used to classify the samples based on their chemical characteristics, revealing that nutrients and specific conductance were the main factors dividing the samples into four groups: young lakes, coastal lakes, larger lakes on the central plateau and smaller, temporary pools. Diatom communities corresponded well to this division and were strongly influenced by salinity and nutrients.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2013

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