Diatoms as water quality indicators in the upper reaches of the Great Fish River, Eastern Cape, South Africa

What is it about?

The project documented the diatoms found in the upper reaches of the Great Fish River and compared them with the physical and certain chemical variables of the water in this river. This was done to determine if diatoms would be reliable indicators of water quality in the semi arid area of the Karoo in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

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Why is it important?

Information of the distribution of diatom species in the Karoo was documented. Chemical analysis revealed, surprisingly, that the water in the upper reaches of the Great Fish River had a very low DIN: IP ratio. The project used northern hemisphere diatom indices as well as the SADI.