Floristic Studies of Diatom Communities and Habitat Characteristics of Some Inland Waters of Libya PDF

Keywords

diatom, flora, Libya

Abstract

Floristic studies of 17 diatom samples, collected from 6 various localities of Libya in the altitudinal range of 10 m (Dernah) to 697 m (Jadu), yielded a total of 71 taxa (17 are new records for Libya). Species richness was shown by Navicula (12 taxa) followed by Nitzschia (11 taxa). Diatom composition indicated that a sample from Ain-ul-Zarga, Jadu, had maximum number of taxa (26) with Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta dominating. Amphora veneta was well represented taxon in all the samples from Wadi el Majanin (near Aziziyah), whilst Nitzachia denticula dominated the sample from Dernah and Al-Khums. Two other samples from Al-Khums and a sample from Tripole had, however, dominance of Navicula halophila. Variability in diatom species composition and their relative abundance was pronounced in the samples from Ghadamis. Thus, Stauroneis pachycephala dominated in Ain-ul-Taliat, followed by Diploneis ovalis as very common taxon, whilst Achnanthes brevipes was dominant in Ain-ul-Deban. Relatively diverse epiphytic diatom growth (11 taxa) was observed on filamentous algae in Ain-ul-Faras, Biddulphia regina dominating the community. The majority of taxa are shown to be alkaliphilus and indicative of oligohalobe status.