Diatom assemblies in some moorland pools in the Drenthian district (the Netherlands)

The results are presented of a survey of diatom assemblies in a number of moorland pools and lakes in the Dwingeloo area of Drenthe. Four assemblies, with some intermediate ones, are described. (1) An assembly characterized by an abundance ofFrustulia rhomboides var.saxonica, Eunotia lunaris, E. veneris var.rhomboidea andTabellaria flocculosa and found in oligotrophic water with a pH in the range 3.1–4.2 (2) An assembly solely consisting ofEunotia exigua which occurs in oligo-minerotrophic pools with brownish deposits of iron compounds and a pH of about 3.5. (3) An assembly consisting of 100%Eunotia paludosa found in the ombrotrophic habitat of emerged stands ofSphagnum with a pH averaging 3.1. This species was found in nearly all localities sampled. (4) An assembly characterized by the sympatric occurrence ofMelosira italica, Nitzschia gandersheimiensis, Gomphonema parvulum andTabellaria flocculosa and found in mesotrophic, disturbed habitats with an average pH of about 4.5. For the delimitation of these assemblies a cluster analysis was carried out by means of the TABORD computerprogram.