The effect pH has on diatom communities on Utricularia spp.

Abstract

Diatoms are found in every habitat, however, different genera respond differently to changes in water chemistry. At three different sites, algal samples were collected in order to examine the diatom communities on Utricularia spp. Of the three sites, two were found to be highly alkaline and the other very acidic. The two alkaline sites had a slightly higher number of genera than the acidic site, but the main differences were in genera composition and abundance. These changes in community composition may be because of changes in pH, directly or not. Regardless of the cause, my data shows that different genera do prefer habitats with different chemical compositions.