Temporal and spatial variability of terrestrial diatoms at the catchment scale: controls on communities

Abstract

Diatoms are generally regarded as inhabitants of water bodies. However, numerous taxa are able to survive and reproduce in a variety of non-aquatic ecosystems. Although terrestrial diatoms are discussed extensively in the literature, most of those studies covered floristic aspects and few information exists on their ecology. This lack of knowledge thwarts their potential use as environmental markers in various applications. As a way forward, we investigated the seasonal patterns and the role of different disturbances on the community composition. We collected soil diatom samples in 16 sites across the Attert River basin (Luxembourg) every 4 weeks for a period of 14 months. Our results indicate that forests create a stable microhabitat for diatoms and that temporal variation of the diatom communities is mainly controlled by farming practices rather than seasonal changes in environmental variables. We also found out that communities need one to 2 months to reestablish a new, stable community after a significant change in the environment. We were able to confirm the applicability of the Pollution-Sensitivity Index (IPS) to identify anthropic disturbances.

Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) from the Genus Eunotia and Pinnularia developing on Soils in the Open Landscape of the Low Beskids

“…The performed statistical analysis showed a certain correlation between the numerous development of these species at the studied sites and the increase in the level of moisture. Foets et al (2020) indicated that diatoms have a number of features, including morphological ones that allow them to adapt to dynamic (daily, seasonal) changes in the environment, e.g. to the changes in moisture content.…”

Technical note: A time-integrated sediment trap to sample diatoms for hydrological tracing

“…pH, moisture... see Lund, 1945;Van de Vijver et al, 2002) and anthropic disturbances (Antonelli et al, 2017;Foets et al, 2020). In a recent study Foets et al (2020), we showed that indicator species could be assigned to certain land use types (e.g. agricultural field, forest...), whereas in another study we indicated that the absolute abundances of soil diatom were related to available soil moisture content (Foets et al, in review).…”

“…Besides their high abundances in aquatic environments, they are also present in most terrestrial habitats where their diversified species distributions are mainly controlled by physiographical factors (e.g. pH, moisture... see Lund, 1945;Van de Vijver et al, 2002) and anthropic disturbances (Antonelli et al, 2017;Foets et al, 2020). In a recent study Foets et al (2020), we showed that indicator species could be assigned to certain land use types (e.g.…”

Peer Review #1 of "Temporal and spatial variability of terrestrial diatoms at the catchment scale: controls on productivity and comparison with other soil algae (v0.1)"

“…Previously, we have investigated the temporal and spatial variability in the composition of soil diatom communities (Foets et al, 2020). There, we found that forests create a stable microhabitat for diatoms, that the temporal variation of the communities is mainly controlled by farming practices, and that they need one to two months to reestablish a new, stable community after a significant change in the environment.…”

“…Manuscript to be reviewed natural unit in which environmental variables such as radiation, temperature and soil moisture show the largest variability. The aim of this study is mainly exploratory, but while analyzing the data for Foets et al (2020), we also developed two hypotheses. Our first hypothesis states that soil diatom productivity (i.e.…”