Distribution of the genus Cyclotella in relation to pH in Precambrian Shield lakes: implications for diatom-inferred pH

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Phycol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.1987.tb04224.x· OSTI ID:7138037

Taylor, M C; Duthie, H C; Smith, S M

Recent research on relationships between diatoms and pH suggest that the genus Cyclotella exhibits a strong relationship with lake acidity, being almost totally absent below pH 5.5. This decline has been used as an indicator of lake acidification in paleolimnological studies. In this study C. stelligera V.H. and C. kuetzingiana Thwaites were abundant in Precambrian Sheild lakes with pH as low as 4.5. Cyclotella comta (Ehr.) Kuetz. was found in lakes of pH <5.5, but maximum abundance was observed in lakes of pH >5.5. Cyclotella michiganiana Skv. was found in lakes of pH >6.0. These results indicate that the use of C. stelligera, C. kuetzingiana, and possibly C. comta, in paleolimnological investigations of lake acidification, should be approached with caution. These taxa may exhibit a decline in abundance with decreasing lake water pH, but this is partially a morphometric effect not necessarily related to anthropogenic acidification.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 7138037
• Journal Information: J. Phycol.; (United States), Vol. 23:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
DIATOMS
SENSITIVITY
LAKES
ACIDIFICATION
WATER POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
LIMNOLOGY
PH VALUE
PRECAMBRIAN ERA
ALGAE
GEOLOGIC AGES
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
580100* - Geology &amp; Hydrology- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology