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Diatom species composition along a thermal gradient in the Portneuf River, Idaho, USA

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Abstract

Glass microscope slides were placed to span a range of temperatures in and around a warm spring in the Portneuf River, Idaho in the winter of 1987. Diatoms were allowed to colonize these slides for 8 weeks. Analysis of slides revealed that maximum species diversity and species richness were reached between 25° and 30 °C. Analysis also showed that certain diatom taxa were stenothermal, showing distinct preferences for various temperatures while others were eurythermal.

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Vinson, D.K., Rushforth, S.R. Diatom species composition along a thermal gradient in the Portneuf River, Idaho, USA. Hydrobiologia 185, 41–54 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006066

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