Relationships between epipelic diatom taxa (Bacillariophyceae) and nutrients in two karstic lakes in central Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

The relationship between epipelic diatom communities and 16 environmental variables from two gypsum karstic lakes in central Anatolia was explored using canonical corresondence analysis. Temperature, ammonium (NH4+), sulphate (SO42-) and calcium (Ca2+) concentrations were the most important variables related to species distribution. The genera Mastogloia, Gomphonema, Navicula, Cymbella, and Nitzschia were the richest in taxa. Diatom species associated with temperature, NH4+, SO42- and Ca2+ gradients were Mastogloia braunii, Mastogloia smithii var, lacustris, Campylodiscus clypeus, Navicula salinarum and Amphora coffeaeformis.