Abstract
The Keelung River (Taiwan) is heavily polluted by domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes. Water quality, particularly in ammonium, nitrite, silicate, and turbidity, negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen. A generic index (GI) – the ratio of abundance of Achnanthes, Cocconeis and Cymbella, to that of Cyclotella, Melosira and Nitzschia – was used to measure changes the diatom assemblages. GI values correlated well the saprobic index, diatom assemblage index, composite river water quality index and species richness of insects. It correlated less well with the trophic diatom index and distribution of fish in the river, suggesting that GI was more indicative of organic pollution than of eutrophication. Data from two of other Taiwanese rivers were used to test the applicability of GI. As in the Keelung River, GI correlated well with the saprobity index, diatom assemblage index and river water quality index.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Public Health Associations (APHA), American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Federation, 1992. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 18th edn. APHA, Washington, D.C.
Cemagref, 1982. Etude des méthodes biologiques quantitatives d'appréciation de la qualité des eaux. Rapport Division Qualité des Eaux Lyon - Agence de l'Eau Rhône-Méditerranée-Corse, Pierre-Bénite, 28 pp.
Cleve-Euler, A., 1951–55. Die Diatomeen von Schweden und Finnland. Almqvist & Wiksells Boktryckeri AB, Stockholm.
Coste, M. & H. Ayphassorho, 1991. Etude de la qualité des eaux du Bassin Artois-Picardie à l'aide des communautés de diatomées benthiques (Application des indices diatomiques) Rapport Cemagref Bordeaux - Agence de l'Eau Artois-Picardie, Douai, 227 pp.
Descy, J. P., 1979. A new approach to water quality estimation using diatoms. Nova Hedwigia 64: 305–323.
Descy, J. P. & M. Coste, 1991. A test of methods for assessing water quality based on diatoms. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 24: 2112–2116.
Gerloff, J. & B. J. Cholnoky, 1970. Diatomaceae II. J. Cramer Verlag, Berlin, Stuttgart. 835 pp.
House, M. A. & D. H. Newsome, 1988. Water quality indices for the management of surface water quality. Wat. Sci. Technol. 21: 11–37.
Kelly, M. G. & B. A. Whitton, 1995. The trophic diatom index: a new index for monitoring eutrophication in rivers. J. Appl. Phycol. 7: 433–333.
Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1986–1991. Bacillariophyceae. Süsswasserflora von Mitteleuropa. Band 2 (part 1–4). Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart.
Lenoir, A. & M. Coste, 1996. Development of a practical diatom index of overall water quality applicable to the French National Water Board Network. In: Whitton B. A. & E. Rott (eds), Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers II. Inst. Bot, Univ. Innsbruck. 29–43.
O-Yang, C. H., 1990. Review of ranking criteria of water quality and pollution index for rivers. Tech. Rep., EPA Taiwan, EPA 79–003–10–021, 333 pp.
Patrick, R. & C.W. Reimer, 1966. The Diatoms of the United States. Monogr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Philadelphia. 688 pp.
Rabenhorst, L., 1971. Die Kielselalgen Deutschlands. Parat III. Johnson Reprint Co., New York, London. 816 pp.
Prygiel, J., 1994. Comparaison de six indices diatomiques et deux indices invertébrés pour l'estimation de la qualité de l'eau de la rivière Sensée (France). Ecol. Mediterranea 20: 121–133.
Prygiel, J. & M. Coste, 1996. Les diatomées et indices diatomiques dans les réseaux de measure de la qualité des cours d'eau Fran+ais: Historique et Avenir. Bull. Fr. Piscic. 341/342: 65–79.
Ross, S. L., 1977. An index system for classifying river water quality. Wat. Poll. Control 76: 113–122.
Round, F. E., 1993. A review and methods for the use of epilithic diatoms for detecting and monitoring changes in river water quality 1993. Methods for the Examination ofWaters and Associated Materials. London, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 65 pp.
Rumeau, A. & M. Coste, 1988. Initiation à la systématique des diatomées d'eau douce pour l'utilisation pratique d'un indice diatomique générique. Bull. Fr. Piscic. 309: 1–69.
Sláde?ek, V., 1986. Diatoms as indicators of organic pollution. Arch. Hydrochim. Hydrobiol. 14: 555–566.
Sneath, P. H. A. & R. R. Sokal, 1973. Numerical Taxonomy. San Francisco, W.H. Freeman & Co. 350 pp.
Watanabe, T., K. Asai & A. Houki, 1986. Numerical estimation to organic pollution of flowing water by using the epilithic diatom assemblage - diatom assemblage index (DAIpo). Sci. Total Environ. 55: 209–218.
Whitton, B. A. & M. G. Kelly, 1995. Use of algae and other plants for monitoring rivers. Aust. J. Ecol. 20: 45–56.
Whitton, B. A. & E. Rott (eds), 1995. Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers II. Inst. Bot., Univ. Innsbruck. 196 pp.
Whitton, B. A., E. Rott & G. Friedrich (eds), 1991.Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers. Inst. Bot.,Univ. Innsbruck. 193 pp.
Wu, J. T., 1986. Relation of change in river diatom assemblages to water pollution. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 27: 234–245.
Wu, J. T., 1997. Investigation on water resources and ecological changes: case study in Houlong River, Taiwan. Tech. Rep. SCOPE Taiwan. 86EC2A040049. 220 pp.
Wu, J. T. & W. C. Suen, 1985. Change of algal associations in relation to water pollution. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 26: 203–212.
Wu, J. T. & M. J. Yang, 1996. Study on the relation of algae to the water quality in Tsenwen River (III). In: Chou, C. H. (ed.), Study on Environmental Changes and Resource Management: Tsenwen River. Acad. Sin. 197–218.
Zelinka, M. & P. Marvan, 1961. Zur Präzisierung der biologischen Klassifikation der Reinheit fliessender Gewässer. Arch. Hydrobiol. 57: 389–407.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wu, JT. A generic index of diatom assemblages as bioindicator of pollution in the Keelung River of Taiwan. Hydrobiologia 397, 79–87 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003694414751
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003694414751