Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Diatoms in water quality assessment: to count or not to count them?

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two methods of quantifying diatoms were compared: (i) by counting valves, and (ii) by simple assignment of individual species to a seven-point scale according to their coverage on a glass slide. The saprobity-trophic index introduced in the Czech Republic for assessing the ecological status of running waters in accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) was used for comparison. There were no statistically significant differences between the indices as calculated by the studied methods, and therefore the comparable indicative values of the two approaches were demonstrated. In all cases, however, indices based on coverage classes achieved higher correlation with the fundamental water chemistry parameters than did indices based on diatom valve counts. To explain the cause of higher correlations, different variants of editing input data were used. The results support the assumption that the main cause of the poorer predictive value for the index based on diatom valve counts is that the abundant taxa are attributed too much importance in the final assessment of the environment quality. Using degrees of coverage for the quantification of diatoms in evaluating the ecological status thus appears to be preferable (or at least sufficient) for the given purpose.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, S., T. Hübener, M. Dreßler, A. F. Lotter & N. J. Anderson, 2010. A comparison of relative abundance versus class data in diatom-based quantitative reconstructions. Journal of Environmental Management 91: 1380–1388.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alverson, A. J., K. M. Manoylov & R. J. Stevenson, 2003. Laboratory sources of error for algal community attributes during sample preparation and counting. Journal of Applied Phycology 00: 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arrow, 2016. Arrow (Assessment and references reports of water monitoring), Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Prague. http://hydro.chmi.cz/isarrow/taxontable.php?agenda=POV&lng=eng

  • Battarbee, R. W., R. J. Flower, S. Juggins, S. T. Patrick & A. C. Stevenson, 1997. The relationship between diatoms and surface water quality in the Høylandet area of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. Hydrobiologia 348: 69–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennion, H., S. Juggins & N. J. Anderson, 1996. Predicting epilimnetic phosphorus concentrations using an improved diatom-based transfer function and its application to lake eutrophication management. Environmental Science & Technology 30: 2004–2007.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Besse-Lototskaya, A., P. F. M. Verdonschot & J. A. Sinkeldam, 2006. Uncertainty in diatom assessment: sampling, identification and counting variation. Hydrobiologia 566: 247–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Besse-Lototskaya, A., P. F. M. Verdonschot, M. Coste & B. Van de Vijver, 2011. Evaluation of European diatom trophic indices. Ecological Indicators 11: 456–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bílý, J., L. Hanuška & O. Winkler, 1952. Hydrobiologia Hnilca a Hornádu. Edičné pracovisko Slovenskej akadémie vied a umení, Bratislava.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breitig, G. & W. von Tümpling, 1975. Ausgewählte Methoden der Wasseruntersuchung, Band II., Biologische, mikrobiologische und toxikologische Methoden. VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena.

  • CSN ISO 7150-1 (757451), 1994. Water quality. Determination of ammonium. Part 1: Manual spectrometric method. Czech Technical State Standard. Czech Standards Institute, Prague.

  • CSN EN 26 777, 1995. Water quality. Determination of nitrite. Molecular absorption spectrometric method (ISO 6777:1984). Czech Technical State Standard. Czech Standards Institute, Prague.

  • CSN EN ISO 9963-1, 1996. Water quality – Determination of alkalinity – Part 1: Determination of total and composite alkalinity. Czech Technical State Standard. Czech Standards Institute, Prague

  • CSN 75 7716, 1998. Water quality, biological analysis, determination of saprobic index. Czech Technical State Standard. Czech Standards Institute, Prague

  • CSN EN 1899-1 (757517), 1999. Water Quality – Determination of biochemical oxygen demand after n days (BODn) – Part 1: Dilution and seeding method with allylthiourea addition. Czech Technical State Standard. Czech Standards Institute, Prague

  • CSN EN ISO 6878, 2005. Water quality – Determination of phosphorus – Ammonium molybdate spectrometric method. Czech Technical State Standard. Czech Standards Institute, Prague

  • Ector, L., J. C. Kingston, D. F. Charles, L. Denys, M. S. V. Douglas, K. Manoylov, N. Michelutti, F. Rimet, J. P. Smol, R. J. Stevenson & J. G. Winter, 2004. Workshop report. Freshwater diatoms and their role as ecological indicators. In Poulin, M. (ed.), Seventeenth International Diatom Symposium 2002. Ottawa, Canada. Biopress, Limited, Bristol: 469–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • EN, European Committee for Standardization, 2003. Water quality – Guidance standard for the routine sampling and pre-treatment of benthic diatoms from rivers. EN 13946:2003.

  • EN, European Committee for Standardization, 2004. Water quality – Guidance standard for the identification, enumeration and interpretation of benthic diatom samples from running water. EN 14407:2004.

  • EN, European Committee for Standardization, 2009. Water quality – Guidance standard for the surveying, sampling and laboratory analysis of phytobenthos in shallow running water. EN 15708:2009.

  • Fjerdingstad, E., 1964. Pollution of streams estimated by benthal phytomicro-organisms I. A saprobic system based on communities of organisms and ecological factors. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie und Hydrographie 49: 63–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fjerdingstad, E., 1965. Taxonomy and saprobic valency of benthic phytomicro-organisms. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie und Hydrographie 50: 475–604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furse, M., D. Hering, O. Moog, P. Verdonschot, R. K. Johnson, K. Brabec, K. Gritzalis, A. Buffagni, P. Pinto, N. Friberg, J. Murray-Bligh, J. Kokes, R. Alber, P. Usseglio-Polatera, P. Haase, R. Sweeting, B. Bis, K. Szoszkiewicz, H. Soszka, G. Springe, F. Sporka & I. Krno, 2006. The STAR project: context, objectives and approaches. Hydrobiologia 566: 3–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillet, N., Y. Pan & Ch Parker, 2009. Should only live diatoms be used in the bioassesment of small mountain streams? Hydrobiologia 620: 135–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillet, N. D., Y. Pan, K. M. Manoylov, R. Stancheva & C. H. L. Wilhoefer, 2011. The potential indicator value of rare taxa richness in diatom-based stream bioassesment. Journal of Phycology 47: 471–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guiry, M. D. & G. M. Guiry, 2016. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org. Accessed 11 September 2016.

  • Hill, B. H., R. J. Stevenson, Y. Pan, A. T. Herlihy, P. R. Kaufmann & C. B. Johnson, 2001. Comparison of correlations between environmental characteristics and stream diatom assemblages characterized at genus and species levels. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 20(2): 299–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann, G., 1994. Aufwuchs-Diatomeen in Seen und ihre Eignung als Indikatoren der Trophie. Bibliotheca Diatomologica, Vol. 30. J. Cramer, Berlin.

  • Hofmann, G., M. Werum, & H. Lange-Bertalot, 2011. Diatomeen im Süßwasser-Benthos von Mitteleuropa. Bestimmungsflora Kieselalgen für die ökologische Praxis. Über 700 der häufigsten Arten und ihre Ökologie. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag K.G., Rugell.

  • Kahlert, M., M. G. Kelly, R.-L. Albert, S. Almeida, T. Bešta, S. Blanco, L. Denys, L. Ector, M. Fránková, D. Hlúbiková, P. Ivanov, B. Kennedy, P. Marvan, A. Mertens, J. Miettinen, J. Picinska-Fałtynowicz, J. Rosebery, E. Tornés, H. van Dam, S. Vilbaste & A. Vogel, 2012. Identification is a minor source of uncertainty in diatom-based ecological status assessments on a continent-wide scale: results of a European ring-test. Hydrobiologia 695: 109–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kahlert, M., É. Ács, S. F. P. Almeida, S. Blanco, M. Dreßler, L. Ector, S. M. Karjalainen, A. Liess & P. Werner, 2016. Quality assurance of diatoms counts in Europe: towards harmonized datasets. Hydrobiologia 772: 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, M. G., 2001. Use of similarity measures for quality control of benthic diatom samples. Water Research 35: 2784–2788.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, M. G. & L. Ector, 2012. Effect of streamlining taxa lists on diatom-based indices: implications for intercalibrating ecological status. Hydrobiologia 695: 253–263.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, M. G. & B. A. Whitton, 1995. The Trophic Diatom Index: a new index for monitoring eutrophication in rivers. Journal of Applied Phycology 7: 434–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, M. G., L. King, R. I. Jones, P. A. Barker & B. J. Jamieson, 2008. Validation of diatoms as proxies for phytobenthos when assessing ecological status in lakes. Hydrobiologia 610: 125–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, M., C. Bennett, M. Coste, C. Delgado, F. Delmas, L. Denys, L. Ector, C. Fauville, M. Ferreol, M. Golub, A. Jarlman, M. Kahlert, L. Lucey, B. Ni Chathain, I. Pardo, P. Pfister, J. Picinska-Faltynowicz, J. Rosebery, C. Schranz, J. Schaumburg, H. van Dam & S. Vilbaste, 2009. A comparison of national approaches to setting ecological status boundaries in phytobenthos assessment for the European Water Framework Directive: results of an intercalibration exercise. Hydrobiologia 621: 169–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1986–1991. Bacillariophyceae 1. Teil: Naviculaceae, 876 pp.; 2. Teil: Bacillariaceae, Epithemiaceae, Surirellaceae, 596 pp.; 3. Teil: Centrales, Fragilariaceae, Eunotiaceae, 576 pp.; 4. Teil: Achnanthaceae. Kritische Ergänzungen zu Navicula (Lineolatae) und Gomphonema, 437 pp. G. Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart.

  • Lavoie, I., P. J. Dillon & S. Campeau, 2009. The effect of excluding diatom taxa and reducing taxonomic resolution on multivariate analyses and stream bioassessment. Ecological Indicators 9: 213–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lecointe, C., M. Coste, & J. Prygiel, 1993. “OMNIDIA” software for taxonomy, calculation of diatom indices and inventories management. Hydrobiologia 269/270: 509–513. http://omnidia.free.fr/

  • Lecointe, C., M. Coste & J. Prygiel, 2003. Omnidia 3.2. Diatom Index Software Including Diatom Database with Taxonomic Names, References and Codes of 11645 Diatom Taxa.

  • Mann, D. G., 2010. Discovering diatom species: is a long history of disagreements about species-level taxonomy now at an end? Plant Ecology and Evolution 143: 251–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marvan, P., 1991. Use of algae as indicators for rivers in Czechoslovakia. – In Whitton, B. A., Rott, E. & G. Friedrich, G. (eds), Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers. Institut für Botanik, Universität Innsbruck: 63–69.

  • Marvan, P. & J. Heteša, 2006. Metodika odběru a zpracování vzorků fytobentosu tekoucích vod. Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, Prague. http://www.mzp.cz/cz/prehled_akceptovanych_metodik_tekoucich_vod

  • Marvan, P., J. Rothschein & M. Zelinka, 1980. Der diagnostische Wert saprobiologischer Methoden. Limnologica 12: 209–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marvan, P., L. Opatřilová, J. Heteša, M. Maciak & P. Horký, 2011. Metodika hodnocení ekologického stavu útvarů povrchových vod tekoucích (kategorie řeka) pomocí biologické složky fytobentos. Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, Prague. http://www.mzp.cz/cz/prehled_akceptovanych_metodik_tekoucich_vod

  • Mendes, T., S. F. P. Almeida & M. J. Feio, 2012. Assessment of rivers using diatoms: effect of substrate and evaluation method. Fundamental and Applied Limnology 179: 267–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pitter, P., 2015. Hydrochemie. University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rott, E., G. Hofmann, K. Pall, P. Pfister & E. Pipp, 1997. Indikatiionsliste für Aufwuchsalgen in österreichischen Fließgewässern, Teil. l: Saprobielle Indikation. Wasserwirtschaftskataster, Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Wien.

  • Rott, E., H. Van Dam, P. Pfister, E. Pipp, K. Pall, N. Binder & K. Ortler, 1999. Indikationslisten für Aufwuchsalgen, Teil 2: Trophieindikation, geochemische Reaktion, toxikologische und taxonomische Anmerkungen. Wasserwirtschaftskataster, Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Wien.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, S. C. & E.-A. Lindstrøm, 2011. The periphyton index of trophic status PIT: a new eutrophication metric based on non-diatomaceous benthic algae in Nordic rivers the acidification index periphyton (AIP). Hydrobiologia 665: 143–155.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sládeček, V., 1986. Diatoms as indicators of organic pollution. Acta Hydrochimica et Hydrobiologica 14: 555–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stancheva, R., A. E. Fetscher & R. G. Sheath, 2012. A novel quantification method for stream-inhabiting, non-diatom benthic algae, and its application in bioassessment. Hydrobiologia 684: 225–239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • STAR consortium, 2001. Standardisation of River Classifications: Framework method for calibrating different biological survey results against ecological quality classifications to be developed for the Water Framework Directive, EVK1-CT 2001-00089. http://www.eu-star.at

  • STAR consortium, 2002. Sampling protocol and audit benthic diatoms. Version 1.3, July, 2002. http://www.eu-star.at

  • StatSoft, Inc. 2013. Statistica 12. http://www.statsoft.com.

  • Stevenson, R. J. & J. P. Smol, 2003. Use of algae in environmental assessment. Freshwater algae of North America. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam: 775–804.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson, R. J., P. Yangdong & H. van Dam, 2010. Assessing environmental conditions in rivers and streams with diatoms. In Stoermer, E. F. & J. P. Smol (eds), The Diatoms: Applications for the Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 57–85.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, 2000. Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Union L327.

  • Van Dam, H., A. Mertens & J. Sinkeldam, 1994. A coded checklist and ecological indicator values of freshwater diatoms from the Netherlands. Netherlands Journal of Aquatic Ecology 28: 117–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitton, B. A., 2012. Changing approaches to monitoring during the period of the “Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers” symposia. Hydrobiologia 695: 7–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zelinka, M. & P. Marvan, 1961. Zur Präzisierung der biologischen Klassifikation der Reinheit fliessender Gewässer. Archüv für Hydrobiologie 57: 389–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann, J., N. Abarca, N. Enk, O. Skibbe, W.-H. Kusber & R. Jahn, 2014. Taxonomic reference libraries for environmental barcoding: A best practice example from diatom research. PLoS ONE 9(9): 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the STAR project (EVK1-CT 2001-00089) and by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (LO1214 and LM2015051). We are very thankful to both reviewers of this manuscript for their kind help, corrections, improving suggestions and inspiring comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, Poříčí 9/11, 603 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Blažena Brabcová

  2. Doležalova 8, 616 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Petr Marvan

  3. T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, PRI, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic

    Libuše Opatřilová

  4. Povodí Vltavy, State Enterprise, 150 24, Prague, Czech Republic

    Libuše Opatřilová

  5. Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Karel Brabec

  6. Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, The CAS, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Markéta Fránková

  7. Sídl. Osvobození, 691 44, Lednice, Czech Republic

    Jiří Heteša

Authors
  1. Blažena Brabcová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Petr Marvan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Libuše Opatřilová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Karel Brabec
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Markéta Fránková
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jiří Heteša
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Blažena Brabcová.

Additional information

Handling editor: Judit Padisák

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Brabcová, B., Marvan, P., Opatřilová, L. et al. Diatoms in water quality assessment: to count or not to count them?. Hydrobiologia 795, 113–127 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3123-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3123-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation