Diatom floras in lakes in the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range, Nevada, USA: A tool for assessing high-elevation climatic variability

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Abstract

Local conditions, including lake size, depth, bathymetric profile, watershed characteristics, and timing and extent of ice cover determine the characteristics of diatom floras, and how those assemblages respond to short and long-term changes in climate. The diatom assemblages from fourteen sediment samples collected from marginal and profundal zones of seven lakes in the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range of northeastern Nevada are characterized in order to identify the factors affecting controlling species diversity, equitability, and assemblage structure. Principle component analysis delineates three depth-controlled diatom assemblages: shallow (~1), medium (~11 m), and deep (>12 m). The shallowest samples are characterized by a diverse benthic assemblage, the medium depth sample is dominated by small fragilarioid taxa, and, the deepest samples, while not dominated by planktonic species, show an increase in their abundance. In general, diatom assemblages in shallower samples exhibit higher diversity and greater equitability.

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Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Diatom floras in lakes in the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range, Nevada, USA: A tool for assessing high-elevation climatic variability
DOI 10.1127/nova-suppl/2018/024
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher Schweizerbart and Borntraeger Science Publishers
Contributing office(s) Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Description 40 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Nova Hedwigia
First page 319
Last page 358
Country United States
State Nevada
Other Geospatial Ruby Mountains, East Humboldt Range
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