Vulnerability of diatom communities in the Peace-Athabasca Delta to environmental change.

ABSTRACT: Habitat degradation associated with resource development is a major ecological concern, particularly in Canada's boreal zone where limited information on biodiversity is available. Habitat degradation can lead to reductions in biodiversity and ecosystem function, especially when drivers of variability and diversity patterns have not been identified for a region of interest. In this study, the distribution of diatom genera in the Peace-Athabasca Delta in northeastern Alberta was examined in relation to seasonal, geographic, and alkalinity gradients. Grab samples of six abiotic variables (total dissolved nitrogen, total dissolved phosphorus, dissolved iron, turbidity, pH, and specific conductance (SPC)) were taken from 12 remote wetlands over three sampling periods, and regressed against an

SUBMITTER: Connor SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6087622 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature