A preliminary study of benthic diatoms in contrasting lake environments

• Main Author: Oppenheim, D.R.
• Other Authors: Kerry, K.R., Hempel, G.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: Springer-Verlag 1990
• Subjects: Antarctic; South Orkney Islands; Signy Island; Broad Lake; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/520716/; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84074-6_9

Eleven of the 17 freshwater lakes from Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica were sampled by snorkel divers. A list of diatom taxa identified from benthic samples is presented. Most freshwater taxa listed were rare and only a few taxa were observed abundantly in many lakes. Assemblage composition varied between three broad lake categories: (1) proglacial; (2) oligotrophic; and (3) mesotrophic lakes. Assemblage composition also changed with lake depth in the larger lakes. A second, more detailed study was undertaken on an oligotrophic and a mesotrophic lake. No seasonal trends could be identified. The limitation of the methods used are discussed, and spatial and temporal variability in Antarctic lakes is considered.