多重环境压力下大屯海硅藻群落结构的长期变化

云南亚热带高原湖泊在过去几十年内面临着工业污染、富营养化、滩地围垦、极端干旱等多重环境压力的影响.本研究以大屯海为研究对象,结合沉积物硅藻、粒度、碳氮同位素以及年代序列等数据进行了多指标分析,重建并识别了大屯海近百年来生态环境变化的历史和硅藻群落变化的特征.结果表明： 近百年来硅藻群落组合出现了较大的转变,优势种由连接脆杆藻转变为极细微曲壳藻.结合多指标环境记录(如碳氮同位素)和现代监测记录,采用排序分析以及方差分解发现,工业污染和湖泊营养盐富集是大屯海硅藻群落结构长期变化的主要驱动因子.此外,沉积物粒度分析结果与气象数据显示,由于大屯海受到修建大坝以及多次干旱事件的影响,湖泊水动力与水体交换能力减弱,从而使沉积物硅藻群落结构也发生了相应的变化.     

基于硅藻功能群特征揭示海西海近现代生态环境变化

依据硅藻的形态、生理与生态特点而定义的功能群分类,可以更好地描述对湖泊环境胁迫的响应特征.本研究识别了海西海表层沉积物硅藻群的空间分布模式,并通过多指标分析探讨其与环境因子的关系.结果表明: 主成分分析和冗余分析,水深和沉积物总氮含量是硅藻功能群空间分布异质性的主要驱动因子;水深8 m左右可能是海西海硅藻出现功能群分异的阈值,与热力分层深度等湖泊水文特征相对应.上述表层沉积物硅藻功能群空间分布结果为沉积物化石记录的解释提供了依据.沉积物钻孔分析显示,近百年来海西海硅藻功能群呈现明显的阶段性波动,与年均气温、沉积物总氮含量、中值粒径等指标变化相对应.气候变暖、富营养化和水位上升是驱动海西海硅藻功能群长期变化的主要环境因子,协同促进了功能群D、P、MP占优势.硅藻功能群多样性变化的长期特征表明气候变暖和营养盐富集促进了硅藻功能群多样性的增加,而海西海1957年筑坝和1990年水库扩容两次典型水文调控显著增加了湖泊水深,导致硅藻功能群多样性降低.     

星云湖硅藻群落响应近现代人类活动与气候变化的过程

随着人类活动的增强与全球气候变暖的持续,近年来云南湖泊的生态系统功能持续退化,而目前对云南湖泊生态系统的研究还主要集中于单一环境压力的生态效应。以星云湖为研究对象,通过沉积物记录与现代监测资料,识别在湖泊富营养化、气候变化以及人类强烈干扰下硅藻群落结构响应的过程,并甄别驱动群落变化的主要环境压力及其强度。结果显示随着湖泊生产力水平(如沉积物叶绿素a浓度)的增加,硅藻物种组成发生了明显的变化,主成分分析表明了水体富营养化是驱动群落变化的主要环境因子(r=-0.63,P0.001)。简约模型与方差分解的结果表明近200年来(钻孔长度38cm),湖泊营养水平和水动力是驱动星云湖硅藻群落变化的主要环境因子,分别解释了群落变化的18.8%和2.9%;而1951年以后,湖泊营养水平和温度分别解释了硅藻群落结构变化的31.4%和26.8%。研究结果表明了硅藻群落长期变化的主控因子是湖泊营养水平,而人类活动及气候变化等可以通过改变湖泊水动力及湖水温度来驱动硅藻群落的演替,同时抚仙湖-星云湖的连通性也对硅藻群落的演替产生了一定影响。     

极端水文干旱下鄱阳湖浮游动物群落结构特征及其影响因素

2022年鄱阳湖流域发生了特大干旱事件，对鄱阳湖生态环境产生了严重影响。为揭示极端水文干旱年的鄱阳湖浮游动物群落结构特征及其主要影响因素，于2022年1月(冬季)、4月(春季)、7月(夏季)和10月(秋季)对鄱阳湖浮游动物进行了综合调查。本次调查共鉴定出浮游动物70种(轮虫40种、桡足类17种和枝角类13种),丰度和生物量范围分别为0—152.67个/L和0—1.52 mg/L。浮游动物群落结构具有较大的时空差异：在季节上，物种数夏季最多，丰度和生物量呈现夏季最高、秋季最低的特征，干旱季节的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和优势种组成明显不同于非干旱季节；在空间上，南部湖区的物种数、丰度、生物量高于北部湖区，多样性指数在中部湖区最高、北部湖区最低。极端水文干旱年的物种数、丰度和生物量均明显低于往年同期，但空间上的差异较小。相关性分析和冗余分析结果表明，浮游动物群落结构在干旱季节和非干旱季节的主要影响因素存在明显差异，其中干旱季节浮游动物群落结构主要受水温、水位、硝态氮、氨氮等的共同影响，非干旱季节受化学需氧量和水位的影响较大。总体上，极端水文干旱使得鄱阳湖浮游动物群落结构稳定性较...     

抚仙湖和滇池硅藻生物多样性与生产力关系的时间格局

目前国内对生产力–生物多样性关系(productivity–diversity relationship,PDR)的研究主要集中于陆地生态系统和空间尺度,少量关于湖泊系统的研究也主要集中于现代调查,缺乏较长时间尺度上的模式探讨。本文应用沉积物色素记录重建了抚仙湖和滇池初级生产力变化历史,对硅藻群落的主成分分析(PCA)表明两个湖泊的初级生产力都是驱动硅藻群落变化的主要环境梯度。进一步分析硅藻群落α与β多样性响应湖泊生产力水平的模式,发现滇池硅藻群落表现为随着系统生产力的上升物种丰富度减少,β多样性降低,而抚仙湖呈现相反的变化模式。两个湖泊β多样性与生产力平均水平的关系均表现出与α多样性相似的特征,但在与生产力变化幅度的关系上,滇池表现出显著的负相关,而抚仙湖则没有显著的变化。滇池硅藻群落生产力随硅藻多样性的降低显著增加(R2=0.597,P0.01),而在抚仙湖无显著变化,表明了滇池群落多样性的维持对群落生产力的影响较弱,如与营养盐富集的促进作用相比。滇池明显的富营养化过程与强烈的人类扰动带来的环境异质性降低可能对群落多样性–生产力的关系产生了明显的控制作用。     

昆明小型城市湖泊叶绿素a浓度与硅藻群落的时空分布及主控因子

水体叶绿素a浓度(Chla)与硅藻群落特征是指示湖泊水质的常用生物指标。本研究于2017年3月—2019年12月调查了昆明市4个小型湖泊(云南师范大学校园内北潭、北湖、南湖、龙潭)的水体环境指标、Chla浓度和硅藻群落的季节变化。结果显示：4个湖泊水体总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和Chla浓度均呈现明显的季节波动。其中，营养水平最高的南湖水体Chla含量显著高于其他3个湖泊，影响南湖Chla变化的主要因子是TN;而在其他3个水体中，水温的增加显著促进了Chla浓度的上升。水温和TN是4个湖泊水体Chla时空变化的主要驱动因子。北潭、南湖和龙潭的硅藻群落以浮游硅藻占优，水深最浅的北湖以底栖硅藻为主，表明水深影响了硅藻群落的浮游物种占比与优势属种。水深、TN、TP、透明度以及水温驱动了硅藻群落的时空变化，其中，水温是影响硅藻群落季节差异的主要因子，而TN和TP是导致同一季节湖泊间硅藻群落差异的主要因子。     

2010年春季干旱对石林喀斯特植物群落的影响

研究干旱对退化喀斯特植被影响是治理退化喀斯特生态系统或石漠化的基础.为了解2010年春中国西南特大干旱对喀斯特植被的影响,于2010年5月采用记名计数交叉样线法调查了云南石林3种自然恢复植物群落(滇青冈林、栓皮栎林、灌丛)和5种人工恢复植物群落(云南松林、原土旱冬瓜林、客土旱冬瓜林、圣诞树林、墨西哥柏林).选用气象要素距平指数分析此次干旱的特征;用受旱率、死亡率分析植物群落和物种的受旱程度;用受旱(死亡+萎蔫)物种数及其植株数、耐旱(存活)物种数及其植株数、群落(受旱+存活)物种数及其植株数计算生物多样性指数来评估极端干旱对生物多样性的影响.结果表明:此次特大干旱具有持续时间长、程度深的特点.8种群落的平均死亡率、受旱率分别是25.1%和30.6%,不同群落的受旱率和死亡率差异较大.极端干旱后,自然恢复群落的更新层仍维持了物种结构;人工恢复群落差异较大,原土旱冬瓜林、云南松林基本未受影响,墨西哥柏林受到一定影响,客土旱冬瓜林、圣诞树林物种结构基本被破坏.极端干旱一定程度上改变了喀斯特植物群落的径级结构和生物多样性,人工恢复群落结构变化大且耐旱性总体上弱于自然恢复植物群落.因此,退化喀斯特生态系统的植被恢复必须选择合理的物种和恢复方式.     

青海湖岸带土壤与沉积物的地化特征与细菌群落对水位上升的响应

【目的】探究青海湖岸带土壤与沉积物的地化特征与细菌群落对水位扩张的响应。【方法】从岸上至岸下沿垂直青海湖岸带方向,采集距离湖面不同高度土壤(土壤：S1、S2)、岸边不同水深表层沉积物(过渡区：E0、E6、E17)及湖心表层沉积物(沉积物：D1、D2)样品,土壤与沉积物水深(土壤水深表示为负数)从小到大的变化表征岸边土壤被淹水转变为沉积物的过程。采用地球化学分析和16SrRNA基因高通量测序技术,探究岸带土壤与沉积物样品中的地化特征与微生物群落构成。【结果】青海湖水位上升导致的生境转变对岸带土壤与沉积物的理化性质、营养水平、有机碳类型等地化特征产生显著影响。具体表现为,随着水位升高,岸带土壤与沉积物的pH、矿物结合态有机碳含量显著升高,而碳氮比值、可溶性有机碳(dissolved organic carbon,DOC)、颗粒态有机碳含量显著下降。随着水位上升,青海湖岸带被淹没土壤的细菌群落多样性下降,且群落结构发生明显变化。这种变化与环境因子变化密切相关,具体表现为,细菌群落物种丰富度指数和香农多样性指数随着水位上升呈下降趋势;活性金属结合态有机碳含量与细菌群落多样性的变化密切相关;理化...     

南极硅藻生物多样性及生态分布研究进展

南极硅藻在南极生态系统中起着至关重要的作用,是南极食物网的基石,其物种多样性、群落结构特征直接或间接影响南极生态系统的稳定性。根据近30年来国内、外有关南极硅藻的多样性和生物地理学研究,综述了海冰硅藻的种类组成和分布特点,南极湖泊硅藻的物种构成特征及附生硅藻和共生硅藻多样性的研究进展,为南极硅藻的生物多样性研究、分子生态学研究、生物地理学研究开发和利用提供参考依据。     

星云湖枝角类群落变化的长期特征与驱动因素

以星云湖为代表的云南大中型湖泊近年来受到多个环境压力的胁迫,出现水质持续恶化、环境功能降低、生态系统退化等问题。目前针对这些湖泊生态环境的研究主要集中于以富营养化为代表的单一环境胁迫,且以短期监测为主,因此有效的湖泊治理与生态修复急需评价多重环境压力的长期驱动过程与特征。本文围绕星云湖枝角类群落沉积物记录,开展了多指标(如色素、粒度等)的综合分析,并结合湖泊调查、历史资料和多变量统计方法对主要环境压力与长期生态响应模式进行了识别。结果表明:沉积物分析中共鉴定出枝角类10属16种,其中盘肠溞属与象鼻溞属占绝对优势;在1890年之前湖泊沉积物色素浓度稳定在较低水平,随后湖泊生产力缓慢上升且沉积物颗粒(63μm)增加;1980年初开始沉积物色素含量快速上升,耐污种C.sphaericus明显增加并成为绝对优势种;随着湖泊生产力水平的上升,枝角类生物量持续增加(R2=0.753,P0.001,n=33),且枝角类群落出现显著变化(R2=0.953,P0.001,n=33);同时,随着外来鱼类的引入和鱼类捕食压力的变化,象鼻溞生物量总体下降但个体大小变化不明显;营养水平的持续增加与水生植物的逐渐消亡,可能导致了枝角类物种趋于单一,底栖枝角类生物量总体下降。总之,星云湖枝角类群落结构与生物量在过去100年来出现了显著变化,湖泊富营养化与生产力的变化是主要驱动因子,同时外来鱼类的引入、水文条件及水生植物的变化也对枝角类群落产生了重要的影响。     

Expanded spatial extent of the Medieval Climate Anomaly revealed in lake‐sediment records across the boreal region in northwest Ontario

Multi‐decadal to centennial‐scale shifts in effective moisture over the past two millennia are inferred from sedimentary records from six lakes spanning a ~250 km region in northwest Ontario. This is the first regional application of a technique developed to reconstruct drought from drainage lakes (open lakes with surface outlets). This regional network of proxy drought records is based on individual within‐lake calibration models developed using diatom assemblages collected from surface sediments across a water‐depth gradient. Analysis of diatom assemblages from sediment cores collected close to the near‐shore ecological boundary between benthic and planktonic diatom taxa indicated this boundary shifted over time in all lakes. These shifts are largely dependent on climate‐driven influences, and can provide a sensitive record of past drought. Our lake‐sediment records indicate two periods of synchronous signals, suggesting a common large‐scale climate forcing. The first is a period of prolonged aridity during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA, c. 900‐1400 CE). Documentation of aridity across this region expands the known spatial extent of the MCA megadrought into a region that historically has not experienced extreme droughts such as those in central and western north America. The second synchronous period is the recent signal of the past ~100 years, which indicates a change to higher effective moisture that may be related to anthropogenic forcing on climate. This approach has the potential to fill regional gaps, where many previous paleo‐lake depth methods (based on deeper centrally located cores) were relatively insensitive. By filling regional gaps, a better understanding of past spatial patterns in drought can be used to assess the sensitivity and realism of climate model projections of future climate change. This type of data is especially important for validating high spatial resolution, regional climate models.     

Seasonal and microhabitat influences on diatom assemblages and their representation in sediment traps and surface sediments from adjacent High Arctic lakes: Cape Bounty,Melville Island,Nunavut

The spatial (i.e. microhabitat) and temporal (i.e. seasonal) characteristics of diatom assemblages in adjacent High Arctic lakes were studied intensively June–August 2004. These baseline data are used to improve understanding of modern diatom community dynamics, as well to inform paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Diatoms were collected approximately weekly through the melt season from each principal benthic substrate (moss/macrophyte, rock scrapes, littoral sediment), plankton, and sediment traps, and were compared to the uppermost 0.5 cm of a surface core obtained from the deepest part of the lake where sediment cores are routinely collected. Water samples were collected concurrently with diatom samples to investigate species–environment relationships. The lakes share approximately half of their common taxa, the most abundant overall in both lakes being small Cyclotella species. Results of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) indicate that the largest gradient in species turnover existed between benthic and planktonic communities in both lakes, and that sediment trap and the surface core top samples most closely resemble the planktonic assemblage, with an additional contribution from the lotic environment. Our results indicate clear micro-spatial controls on species assemblages and a degree of disconnection between the benthos and deep lake sediments that manifests as an under-representation of benthic taxa in deep lake surface sediments. These findings are particularly relevant in the context of interpreting the paleoenvironmental record and assessing ecosystem sensitivity to continued climate change.     

Correlation of surface sediment diatoms with the present lake water pH in 28 Algoma lakes,Ontario, Canada

The surface sediment diatom analysis of 28 Algoma lakes (pH 4.40–8.13) indicates that even though each lake has a widely different aquatic environment and characteristic diatom assemblage, a definite relationship exists between the lake water pH and their diatom assemblages. In the acidic lakes acidobiontic and acidophilous diatom species predominate whereas in circumneutral and alkaline lakes circumneutral and alkaliphilous diatoms were most common. Cluster analysis of the pH indicator diatom assemblages grouped the study lakes into three distinct cluster groups. These groups also closely corresponded to lake water pH. On the basis of published ecological information as well as their presence in our study lakes, the pH indicator status of a number of diatom taxa have been discussed. A detailed listing of the diatom taxa identified and their pH indicator status is provided in order to facilitate their use in future diatom-inferred pH studies.     

PERIPHYTIC DIATOM ASSEMBLAGES FROM ULTRA‐OLIGOTROPHIC AND UV TRANSPARENT LAKES AND PONDS ON VICTORIA ISLAND AND COMPARISONS WITH OTHER DIATOM SURVEYS IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC1

Periphytic diatoms are potentially powerful indicators of environmental change in climatically‐sensitive high latitude regions. However, only a few studies have examined their taxonomic and ecological characteristics. We identified and enumerated diatom assemblages from sediment, rock, and moss habitats in 34 ultra‐oligotrophic and highly transparent lakes and ponds on Victoria Island, Arctic Canada. The similar limnological characteristics of the sites allowed us to examine the influence of habitat, independent of water chemistry, on the diatom assemblages. As is typical in shallow arctic water bodies, benthic taxa, including species of Achnanthes, Caloneis, Cymbella, Navicula, and Nitzschia, were most widely represented. Minor gradients in our measured environmental variables did not significantly explain any variance in diatom species, but there were marked differences in diatom assemblages among sites. Pond ephemerality seems to explain some diatom variation, because aerophilic taxa such as Achnanthes kryophila Petersen and A. marginulata Grunow were dominant in shallow sites that had undergone appreciable reductions in volume. We identified several taxa that exhibited strong habitat preferences to sediment, moss, or rock substrates and also found significant differences (P < 0.01) in diatom composition among the three habitats. In comparisons with three similar diatom surveys extending over 1200 km of latitude, we determined that surface sediment assemblages differed significantly (P < 0.001) among all regions examined. Diatom species diversity was inversely related to latitude, a result likely explained by differences in the lengths of growing seasons. These data contribute important ecological information on diatom assemblages in arctic regions and will aid in the interpretation of environmental changes in biomonitoring and paleolimnological studies.     

Climate-lake interactions recorded in varved sediments from a Swedish boreal forest lake

A 1100-year long record of lake ecosystem response to climate and catchment change with precise chronological control is reported. Diatom and pollen assemblages of an annually laminated (varved) sediment from a northern Swedish lake (Kassjön, Våsterbotten) were used as records of lake diatom communities and catchment vegetation. These data were compared with summer temperature estimates based on tree-ring records of the same geographical area to identify the effects of climate change and catchment disturbance on diatom assemblages in the lake. In a canonical ordination, 23% of the variability in the total diatom assemblages for the period AD1040–1804 was accounted for by changes in pollen data which reflect agricultural development in the catchment. Diatom species richness, however, exhibited a stronger relationship with summer temperature and, significantly, declined with the lower temperatures associated with the Little Ice Age minimum (early 17th century). Summer temperature accounted for 23% of the variability in diatom species richness 20 years later. The mechanism behind this time-lag is unclear, but may be related to catchment-mediated effects, given recent evidence for lags in the response of boreal-forest vegetation regeneration cycles to climatic variability. These results suggest that climate-related effects on lakes occurring over medium timescales can be resolved in lake sediments. Moreover, it is possible to identify these effects despite cultural-related signals, but as the latter become more extreme in the late 20th century the climate signal is obscured.     

DISTRIBUTION OF INTERTIDAL DIATOMS ASSOCIATED WITH SEDIMENTS IN YAQUINA ESTUARY,OREGON1,2

Sediment samples and environmental data were collected from November 1973 to August 1974 to analyze the distribution of sediment-associated diatom assemblages relative to vertical, horizontal, and seasonal gradients in Yaquina Estuary, Oregon. The distribution of diatoms was regulated primarily by mean salinity and characteristics of the sediment, i.e., mean sediment size and percentage of organic carbon. Prominent taxa in the river above Yaquina Bay exhibited overlapping distributions along the salinity gradient to a location in brackish water where the mean salinity was approximately 5%_o. At this salinity, a relatively sharp discontinuity in the diatom flora existed which appeared to represent the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms involved in the osmotic regulation of fresh- and brackish-water diatoms. Relatively large disparities m the structure of diatom assemblages were found within relatively small areas of Yaquina Bay. These differences were attributed to properties of the sediment. Differences in diatom assemblages relative to variations in light intensity, water temperature and exposure to intertidal emergence were not apparent from the analysis of field data.     

DIATOM PALEOLIMNOLOGY OF TWO FLUVIAL LAKES IN THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER: A RECONSTRUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES DURING THE LAST CENTURY

Water quality degradation is a serious concern for the St. Lawrence River. While some environmental data are available for the St. Lawrence ecosystem, long-term monitoring data are generally lacking. To infer past environmental changes, we undertook a paleolimnological assessment of diatom assemblages preserved in four ²¹⁰Pb- and ¹³⁷Cs-dated sediment cores from two fluvial lakes in the river, and used diatom transfer functions to infer past shoreline habitat characteristics. At sites in Lake Saint-François, a fluvial lake downstream from Cornwall, water quality decreased this century in response to human impacts (e.g. macrophyte density and nutrient levels increased). These trends were apparent from an increase in epiphytic diatom taxa, followed by an increase in eutrophic planktonic taxa. Water quality, however, appears to have improved somewhat in response to rehabilitation measures during the last two decades. From a sediment core near Montréal (Lake Saint-Louis), we also noted a large proportion of eutrophic and epiphytic taxa, but less evidence was recorded of a recent improvement in water quality. The diatom-based inference model for habitat characteristics appeared to reconstruct environmental conditions in the St. Lawrence River during the last century. The most notable shift has been an increase in diatom taxa commonly associated with macrophyte substrates. Trends in some of the planktonic diatoms were similar to those recorded in paleolimnological investigations from Lake Ontario, but cores from the river also may be reflecting local environments. This study shows that diatom-based paleolimnological studies are possible in large river systems, if coring sites (e.g. fluvial lakes) are carefully selected.     

Recovery of UK lakes from acidification: An assessment using combined palaeoecological and contemporary diatom assemblage data

We assess the recovery of UK lakes from acidification using the combined data from sediment cores and sediment traps to track changes in diatom assemblages in 11 UK upland lakes from pre-acidification times (prior to ca. 1850 AD) to the present (2008 AD). We projected the data into a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of diatom assemblage data from 121 low-alkalinity lakes in the UK to show how the floristic composition of the core and trap diatom assemblages for each site has changed through time. The results show that the degree of recovery from acidification varies amongst sites but in all cases its extent is limited when compared with the pre-acidification reference. In most cases the recovery, although usually slight, is characterised by a decline in acid tolerant taxa and a return towards taxa that occurred previously at each respective site. In a few cases, however, the floristic composition of recent samples is different from those that occurred during and before the acidification phase. The reasons for this are not yet clear but it is possible that nutrient enrichment from atmospheric N deposition and/or climate change is beginning to play a role in driving water quality as acidity decreases. More generally the results show that annually recovered samples from sediment traps can be successfully combined with sediment core data to provide a continuous record of environmental change in lake systems, and that diatoms collected in sediment traps can be used to provide a very powerful lake monitoring tool.     

Consistent patterns in diatom assemblages and diversity measures across water‐depth gradients from eight Boreal lakes from north‐western Ontario (Canada)

1. Until recently, the distribution of diatom species assemblages and their attributes (e.g. species richness and evenness) in relation to water depth have been identified but not quantified, especially across several lakes in a region. Here, we examined diatom assemblages in the surface sediment across a water‐depth gradient in eight small, boreal lakes in north‐western Ontario, minimally disturbed by human activities. 2. Surface‐sediment diatom assemblages were collected within each lake along a gentle slope from near‐shore to the centre deep basin of the lake, at a resolution of ～1 m water depth. Analysis of sedimentary samples provided an integrated view of assemblages that were living in the lake over several years and enabled a high‐resolution analysis of many lakes. The study lakes ranged in water chemistry, morphology and size and are located along an east–west transect approximately 250 km long in north‐western Ontario (Canada). 3. The majority of diatom species were distributed along a continuum of depth, with those taxa having similar habitat requirements forming distinct, though overlapping, assemblages. Three major zones of diatom assemblages in each lake were consistently identified: (i) a near‐shore assemblage of Achnanthes (sensu lato), Nitzschia, Cymbella (sensu lato) and other benthic species; (ii) a mid‐depth assemblage of small Fragilaria (sensu lato)/small Aulacoseira and various Navicula taxa; and (iii) a deep‐water assemblage of planktonic origin (mainly Discotella spp.). 4. The depth of the transition between assemblage zones varied between the eight lakes. The boundary between the deep‐water planktonic zone and the mid‐depth benthic zone varied according to water chemistry and was probably related to light attenuation. The boundary was deeper in lakes with the lower dissolved organic carbon and total phosphorus (TP) (i.e. less light attenuation) and vice versa. 5. Generally, species richness, species evenness and turnover rate of species as a function of depth were significantly lower in the planktonic assemblage zone in comparison with the two zones nearer the shore. Reproducibility of species and assemblage distributions across the depth gradient of the lakes illustrated that, despite potential for sediment transport, detailed ecological characterisation of diatom species can be gleaned from sedimentary data. Such data are often lacking, particularly for near‐shore benthic species.