RT Journal Article
T1 Diatom assemblages distribution in catalan rivers, NE Spain, in relation to chemical and physiographical factors
A1 Sabater, Sergi
A1 Leira Campos, Antón Manoel
K1 Diatoms
K1 Epilithon
K1 Water quality
K1 Multivariate methods
K1 Community analyses
AB Distribution patterns of epilithic diatom assemblages in streams in northeastern Spain and their relation to different environmental gradients are presented. Thirty-five sites were sampled covering a wide range of fluvial typologies. Gradient analysis was used to analyze the community structure and the major ecological gradients underlying variation in species composition. Two major gradients were evident; the first was a complex gradient from oligotrophic, pristine, fast-flowing highland rivers to mainly eutrophic rivers of low elevation; and the second related to altitudinal and seasonal variation of temperature. Two sets of factors were evident; one was associated with water  chemistry, and the other to seasonal and physiographical variation. Variance partitioning allowed the separation of the effects of the different sets of environmental parameters. The contribution of physiography and water chemistry to diatom distribution was more unclear when the level of disturbance was intermediate. Considering the relatively high proportion of variation explained by physiographical variables alone, we suggest that when using diatoms to evaluate water quality, ecoregional characteristics of river stretches should also be considered.
PB Elsevier
SN 0043-1354
YR 2005
FD 2005
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/32663
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/32663
LA eng
NO Leira, M., & Sabater, S. (2005). Diatom assemblages distribution in Catalan rivers, NE Spain, in relation to chemical and physiographical factors. Water research, 39(1), 73-82.
NO We would like to thank the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) for conducting the river surveys and water chemistry measurements. Thanks to E. Navarro for preparation of part of the diatom slides. This study was partly supported by the Catalan Water Agency through a cooperative agreement. We are also thankful to I. Donohue and three anonymous reviewers who made extremely helpful comments on the manuscript.
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026