A limnological survey of the Alligator Rivers Region - Volume I: Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) of the Region

About the report

This study was undertaken as part of a study of the algae of the Alligator Rivers Region in general, and of the Magela Creek in particular, to support an investigation into the possible use of native algae as an indicator of any changes in water quality which might occur as a result of uranium mining and milling in the Region. This report deals only with the diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) found in the Alligator Rivers Region, though that flora is compared with the diatom flora of samples from other parts of tropical Australia to give some degree of regional perspective. The diatom flora so far observed numbers more than 160 taxa from 32 genera and contains representatives of both tropical and cosmopolitan distributions. Only two taxa are apparently new to science, though many more have been seen, though rarely, beyond the location in which they were originally collected.

A full account of the sampling and specimen preparation methodology is included, together with a key to the genera for those wishing to use this report for more than comparative iconography.

Finally, remarks on the distribution of taxa and the complexity of the flora in relation to a monitoring program are given.