<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Diatom communities in alpine-zone streams of the Tatra National Park and the Swiss National Park were heterogeneous with respect to species richness, abundance, Shannon diversity index, and ecological preference. Two groups of diatoms were distinguished. Group 1, inhabited streams in the upper Gąsienicowa Valley (Tatra Mts) and Macun Lakes region (Alps), and had high species richness and Shannon diversities (especially in the Tatra Mts streams) but low abundances. The most abundant and common diatoms were <italic>Psammothidium helveticum, Diatoma mesodon, Aulacoseira alpigena, Achnanthidium minutissimum, Psammothidium subatomoides, Psammothidium marginulatum</italic>, and <italic>Gomphonema parvulum.</italic> Group 2 inhabited Tatra Mts streams in the Five Polish Lakes Valley and lower Gąsienicowa Valley. Diatoms were highly abundant but species richness and Shannon diversities were relatively low. The most abundant were <italic>Achnanthidium minutissimum, Diatoma mesodon, Fragilaria capucina gracilis</italic> group and <italic>Tabellaria flocculosa.</italic> There was no clear difference between the diatom communities of the outlet streams of upper lakes and the inlet streams of adjacent downstream lakes. The high abundance of diatoms in the streams of the Tatra Mts suggests recent ecosystem changes related to lake eutrophication and partly by weather anomalies resulting from climate change.</p>
</abstract>

Diatom communities in alpine-zone streams of the Tatra National Park and the Swiss National Park were heterogeneous with respect to species richness, abundance, Shannon diversity index, and ecological preference. Two groups of diatoms were distinguished. Group 1, inhabited streams in the upper Gąsienicowa Valley (Tatra Mts) and Macun Lakes region (Alps), and had high species richness and Shannon diversities (especially in the Tatra Mts streams) but low abundances. The most abundant and common diatoms were Psammothidium helveticum, Diatoma mesodon, Aulacoseira alpigena, Achnanthidium minutissimum, Psammothidium subatomoides, Psammothidium marginulatum, and Gomphonema parvulum. Group 2 inhabited Tatra Mts streams in the Five Polish Lakes Valley and lower Gąsienicowa Valley. Diatoms were highly abundant but species richness and Shannon diversities were relatively low. The most abundant were Achnanthidium minutissimum, Diatoma mesodon, Fragilaria capucina gracilis group and Tabellaria flocculosa. There was no clear difference between the diatom communities of the outlet streams of upper lakes and the inlet streams of adjacent downstream lakes. The high abundance of diatoms in the streams of the Tatra Mts suggests recent ecosystem changes related to lake eutrophication and partly by weather anomalies resulting from climate change.

Diatom communities of lake/stream networks in the Tatra Mountains, Poland, and the Swiss Alps

Department of Aquatic Ecology, EAWAG, Institute of Integrative Biology

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

Diatom communities in alpine-zone streams of the Tatra National Park and the Swiss National Park were heterogeneous with respect to species richness,...

Diatom communities of lake/stream networks in the Tatra Mountains, Poland, and the Swiss Alps

Published Online: Oct 08, 2008

Page range: 21 - 35

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10009-008-0002-4

Keywords
Tatra National Park, Swiss National Park, alpine streams, lake outlets, epilithon, diatom structural complexity

This content is open access.

Diatom communities of lake/stream networks in the Tatra Mountains, Poland, and the Swiss Alps

Published Online: Oct 08, 2008

Page range: 21 - 35

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10009-008-0002-4

KeywordsTatra National Park, Swiss National Park, alpine streams, lake outlets, epilithon, diatom structural complexity

This content is open access.

Keywords
Tatra National Park, Swiss National Park, alpine streams, lake outlets, epilithon, diatom structural complexity