Regional distribution of diatom assemblages in the headwater streams of Luxembourg

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of environmental variables on the structure of benthic diatom assemblages, and to propose type assemblages of diatoms characterizing unpolluted headwater streams of Luxembourg. A total of 289 diatom samples were collected in the headwater streams of Luxembourg. At each sampling site, physical and chemical variables were also measured. The relationships between environmental variables and the distribution of the taxa were estimated using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. On the basis of geology and stream water chemistry, Luxembourg could be separated in two regions. The streams in the schistose northern part of Luxembourg presented a low carbonate hardness (median 3.5° F); the streams in the southern part of Luxembourg presented a high carbonate hardness (median 21.8° F) notably connected to the presence of sandstone and limestone substrata. A Twinspan classification carried out on diatom assemblages defined two groups of samples corresponding to these two regions. The carbonate hardness that is related to the nature of the geological substratum appeared to be the major structuring variable for the assemblage composition. Anthropogenic pollution was a secondary structuring variable for diatom assemblages since each group could be subdivided in subgroups presenting statistically different nutrient and organic matter concentrations. The diatom assemblages of these subgroups were characterised by differences of saprobic and trophic preferences. On the basis of these results, two type assemblages of diatoms are proposed for the unpolluted headwater streams in the two regions of Luxembourg. The presence of these different type assemblages in Luxembourg shows the necessity to adapt diatom bioindication to the different regions of the country.