Diatom flora of a kettle-hole bog in relation to hydrarch succession zones

Abstract

Diatom assemblages were compared to the vegetational seres and to physical and chemical parameters of a kettle-hole bog which had distinct hydrarch successional zones and was in turn surrounded by a cattail marsh and a willow swamp . Multivariate analysis of variance showed the water parameters (temperature, pH, conductivity, color, free calcium) among the zones were significantly different (p < 0 .0001) . Diatoms were enumerated using the first 500 valves counting method and results showed each zone had a distinct flora . Cluster analysis of the diatom data by both species and zones grouped the bog successional zones into one major group and the marsh/ swamp zones into the second major group . The occurrence of well defined seral stages of vegetation and diatoms suggests microorganisms are undergoing ecological succession in kettle-hole bogs .