Spring habitats are highly diverse and have a mosaic microhabitat structure. They endangered by diffuse exploitation as drinking-water resources, an impact likely to increase with climate change. Diatoms were sampled from stones bryophytes in 110 nonthermal, near-natural springs the southeastern Alps (Trentino) 16 carbonate Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park. Fuzzy clustering identified 6 assemblages main types of springs. Carbonate rheocrenes hosted Achnanthidium spp., Gomphonema...

The depth-distribution of epilithic diatoms in a carbonate meromictic lake (south-eastern Alps), characterized by marked water-level fluctuations, was investigated. Fixed stations were placed along depth-profile at intervals 2–3 m and sampled throughout the year using scuba diving. Diatom analysis included quantification living cells (biovolume calculations) estimation fucoxanthin concentration, which, coupled with digested material, permitted taxonomic determination specific or subspecific...

Benthic algae were used to identify reference conditions of springs for bioassessment purposes. and environmental factors quantified in 70 (nonthermal mostly near-natural) the southeastern Alps. Spring types identified by fuzzy clustering nondiatom, benthic algal assemblages. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicator species analysis (IndVal) most relevant determinants taxonomic composition characterize ecological traits key taxa. A total 120 macro- microscopic pro- eukaryotic...

The traditional and widely used ecomorphological spring classification—pool springs (limnocrenes), seepages (helocrenes), flowing (rheocrenes)—is based mainly on the flow regime at mouth. This clear distinction is purely environmental conditions, but how to what extent these typologies are reflected by biological assemblages consisting of different taxonomic groups remains largely untested. Classification habitats typically one or few groups. However, likely differ in their response...

Mediterranean streams are naturally highly-stressed environments mainly due to wide seasonal and inter-annual fluctuations in water quantity. This natural pressure will be exacerbated by climate change is a significant challenge when establishing efficient assessment methods. We studied environmental parameters (hydromorphology, hydrology, physical chemical variables) analysed 171 diatom samples from 65 stations Cyprus (south-western part). Analyses revealed 290 taxa (273 identified the...

Since several decades diatoms are increasingly used for the assessment of trophic status different freshwater ecosystems.However, spring habitats have been only marginally considered concerning this topic.The purpose research was to compare diatom assemblages two groups carbonate, low-altitude springs, affected by levels anthropogenic disturbances.Between 2005 and 2008, were sampled in 57 low-altitude, carbonate keeping separate main microhabitats (stones bryophytes), assessing an extensive...

Abstract Springs are unique but understudied habitats. Diatom communities have received some attention remained largely unknown in the south-western Alps. We therefore studied springs of extreme Alpine mountain range. analysed epilithic and epiphytic assemblages 48 different ecomorphological types, located on contrasting lithological substrata (carbonate/siliceous). Moreover, phytosociological relevés were carried out for carbonate springs. The diatom flora consisted 223 taxa. Most (198)...

We studied diatoms from the fifteen springs selected in Berchtesgaden National Park on behalf of Bavarian State Ministry for Environment to be sentinel environments climate-change effects. For three these springs, diatom data based samples taken 1997 were also available. A total 162 species belonging 49 genera found sampling microhabitat types (lithic materials, bryophytes, surface sediments). The cumulative percentage all included a threat category including endangered was 43%, confirming...

Diatom assemblages in carbonate spring habitats at low elevations, with discharge, and affected by direct human impacts were studied only recently some geographic areas.We describe characterize the ecology of a new Navicula species from springs these characteristics within basin River Adige south-eastern Alps Alpine foothills (Province Verona, Italy).Navicula veronensis sp.nov. is group around N. cincta but has distinct outline, size, central area, proximal raphe endings.The availability...

A new benthic freshwater diatom, Cymbella tridentina sp. nov., was identified with the aid of light and scanning electron micrographs. The most characteristic morphological features are valve outline (in particular, shape ventral margin), number stigmata, length/breadth ratio. species epilithic in carbonate, mountain, flowing springs 3 Natural Parks Alps. environmental preferences species, assessed by comparative analysis sites where it found seasonal longitudinal-distribution data available...

Lake Tovel is an oligotrophic, meromictic, mountain lake of the Dolomites that undergoes marked seasonal water-level fluctuations (WLFs). We used neo- and paleolimnological data collected since 1999 to test utility algal cyanobacterial pigments diatom chironomid biodiversity as proxies for WLF highlight contribution benthic algae sediment record. found detailed knowledge present-day spatiotemporal patterns essential a complete correct interpretation data. Scytonemin, cyanobacteria-specific...

During a study of the diatoms streams in Cyprus, two Ulnaria species were difficult to identify using current taxonomic concepts, which created difficulties when trying understand their ecological preferences. As result, both taxa investigated detail light (LM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopy. Literature searches showed that one these corresponds Synedra Monodi Guermeur, “forgotten” often misidentified as Fragilaria biceps. This was shown belong genus Ulnaria, new combination is...

More or less needle-shaped species of Fragilaria s.s. are difficult to identify. Here we contribute the taxonomy this group by describing three new science from very low conductivity mountain freshwater environments. Two resemble taxa established Kützing in early 19th century: F. rumpens and vaucheriae. spinaspeciosa sp. nov., a seepage (helocrenic spring) northern Apennines, is superficially similar rumpens, but has lower stria density. tridentina nov. distinguished gracilis its smaller...

Environmental factors and diatoms were studied in 151 stations Cypriot streams.Since Navicula simplex Krasske [new combination: Craticula (Krasske) Levkov] is based on the small-scale drawing of a single valve type material no longer available, we provide additional ecological, morphological, ultrastructural data, an epitype for C. simplex, which distinguished by outline stria density, occurs small, nutrient-enriched streams.Two other symmetric biraphid species are proposed as new to science...

To unveil possible changes in diatom communities Cypriot streams over the last ten years or so, we selected samples from 2020, 2021, and 2022 for "recent" dataset (N = 119) 2010 2011 "historical" 108). Biotic homogenization has become a truly global phenomenon. Here show that, years, response to increased water temperature, conductivity, discharge variability due climate-change, stream include higher number of trivial (= widespread, tolerant, opportunistic), aerial, thermophilic species,...

Mires are significant C-sinks and important habitats for biodiversity conservation. Particularly in the Alpine peatlands, grazing trampling cause mires to degrade, causing changes plant communities that increase bulk density, peat erosion, nutrient excesses. We took sixteen samples of epipelic epiphytic diatoms from mire pools subjected varying degrees Adamello-Brenta Nature Park (Trento, Italy). identified >100 diatom species (ca. 70% included Red List threat categories). used nMDS...