Sedimentary diatom assemblages in the northern part of Lake Tanganyika

Surface sediment diatoms from the northern part of Lake Tanganyika were analysed with several ordination and classification techniques. Three sample groups characterized by four diatom assemblages were recognized. The first sample group occurs in a rather shallow area near the delta of the Rusizi River on a coarse-grained sand substrate. The second and most important sample group occurs on the silty bottom of an underwater depression situated off the delta of the Rusizi River in the north-eastern part of Lake Tanganyika; its diatom composition has a great affinity to the Rusizi River diatom population. The third sample group contains all the other samples and covers an area corresponding to the west-, east- and southward continuation of the area of the second group: its diatom composition is also related to the Rusizi River diatom population, but in a less pronounced manner.