Is diatom richness responding to catchment glaciation? A case study from Canadian headwater streams

A study on Canadian headwater streams revealed that diatom richness varies significantly with catchment glaciation, with glacial streams exhibiting lower species diversity compared to more distant sites. The research, conducted across the Coast Range and Rocky Mountains, identified pioneer taxa like Achnanthidium minutissimum as dominant in glacier streams, while subdominant taxa included rare arctic-alpine or high-altitude species. Cluster analysis distinguished glacier stream sites from downstream river segments, highlighting the impact of glacial conditions on diatom communities. The findings underscore the vulnerability of glacial streams to global change and their unique ecological characteristics.

Gesierich, D., & Rott, E. (2012). Is diatom richness responding to catchment glaciation? A case study from Canadian headwater streams. Journal of Limnology, 71(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2012.e7